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HISTORY 



RK=UNION 



Sons and Dauofitkrs 



NKWPORT, R. I., 



JULY 4th, 18S4, 



FRANK G. HARRIS. 



NEWPORT, R. 1.: 

Pavis & Pitman, Printers. 



^"f3-/^ 2> 



V 



Fs-i 



. N 5 43 



TO ALL THOSE 

WHO, WHETHER AT HOME OR ABROAD, 

ASSISTED IN MAKING THE RE-UXION A SUCCESS, 

THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY 

DEDICATED. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Ere the Re-Union day of '84 had been numbered with 
the past, many of the Sons and Daughters, who had come 
home to attend the celebration, realizing how delightful a suc- 
cess the occasion was, began to discuss the desirability of 
having its history written. Indeed at the reception held by 
the New York deleo-ation, on the even in a- of the Fourth, 
formal acti(m upon the subject was taken, a motion request- 
ing the Secretary of the Re-l'nion Committee to undertake 
the task being passed with entire unanimity and pleasant 
cordiality. Then, too, not a few of the citizens of Newport 
joined in the request, and subsequently, on the evening of the 
fourth da}' of August, the Re-Union Committee adopted the 
followino- resolution : — 

Resolved, That the Secretary of our ComniiUee he. and he here- 
by is, earnestly requested to prepare for pul)lication a history of the 
late Re-Union, for which undertaking^ he is adniiial>l\- qualified. 

These pleasant solicitations were supplemented bv the fol- 
lowing very cordial letter from the Mayor of the Cit}" : — 

CiTv OF Newport, R. I.. | 

ExEcuTivK Department, August ^, 1884. j 

F. G. Harris. Esq^., vSccrctary, etc. 
]\Iy Dear Sir: — 

By an official communication receixed from you to-day, I am re- 
minded that the Committee, oiwliich nou were the efficient and pains- 
taking vSecretary, has concluded its labors in connection with the Re- 
Union of the vSons and Daughters of Newport, held July qtli, 1S84. 

Tlie Re-Union \\ as such a success that it appears to me desirable 
its history siiould he written for preser\ation. I know of no one 
whose knowledge of the proceedings better qualifies him for this 
task than yourself. 

The General Committee of Arrangements and also the several 
delegations of the returned Sons and Daughters have already ex- 
pressed this opinion. 



6 INTRODUCTION. 

May I add my request to theirs, and ask }()u to render not only 
them, but the wliole people of Newport, this pleasant, though 
arduous service? 

It is with pleasure I ask this of you, and, knowing your large pub- 
lic spirit, I feel you will not refuse. 

Ver}' trul}' \ours, 

ROB'T S. FRANKLIN, 

Mayor. 

If there was any hesitancy on my part in according a ready 
acquiescence to these yery flattering requests, it was the result 
of a fear lest my iViends had, in their kindness, over-estimated 
my ability to produce such a work as would do justice to the 
unparalleled eyent which called it forth ; but then that little 
word TRY, so important in the life-career of Bruce, recurred 
more forcibly than eyer before, and maintained a constant 
and inspiriting influence on my mind. 

Thus encouraged, the task, attended as it has been with 
varied experiences, \\'as begun, and an eflbrt made to present 
as acceptable a version as possible of the delightful story ot 
the second Re-Union of Newport's children, which, I am tree 
to confess, has gained with me a more and more pleasing as- 
pect, and a grander, deeper meaning, in the recollection of 
its many stirring incidents. To the account, herein given, 
has been added an interesting chapter, written by Mr. George 
C. Mason and entitled *' A Retrospective Glance," which 
notes the changes wrought by time in the old homestead since 
the year '59, and is a ^•aluable acquisition to the volume. 
The work being completed, it remains but to be said that if 
these pages shall jirove to be useful in reviving pleasant mem- 
ories of a glorious day, for those who participated in its en- 
joyment, then my reward will be great, and sufficient for all 
time. 

F. G. H. 

NeW'Tort, R. I. 

Christmas Day, 1884. 



CONTENTS. 



First Tlunii^htis. 

Taking Shape, 

The Correspondence, 

A Retrospective Ghuice, 

Preparing for the Day, 

Just Before the Fourth, . 

The Day and the Occasion, 

The Procession, . 

The Exercises at tlie Tent, 

The Evening's Festixities, 

After the Day, 

Conclusion, 

The Official Register, 

Subscribers, 

Rogers High School, 

Purgatory, 

The Coddington House, 

Tlie Casino, 

Stone Mill, 

Whitehall, 

Thames Street, 

Jewish Cemetery, 

Lands End, 

Ancient Days, 

The Beach, 

State House, Newport, R. I. 

Forty Steps, . 

Spouting Rock, . 

Redwood Library, 

Channing Memorial Churcli 

Trinity Church, 

Fort Dumplings, 

Lime Rock, . 

The Glen, 

Happy Valley, 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE. 
9 

^4 
35 
47 
5S 
63 
73 
81 
141 

145 
i^i 

154 
169 



^3 

57 
65 
72 
73 
75 
So 
Si 
SS 
104 

135 
140 
141 
144 

145 
151 
K^3 
154 
168 
171 



CHAPTER I. 



FIRST THOUGHTS. 



It is a grand old English custom as Christmas-tide ap- 
proaches, lor sons and daughters, from far and near, to seek 
the homestead and round again the family circle. So, when 
the pearly mistletoe berries begin to peep out amid the 
russet oak foliage, and bright red ones of the prickly holly 
gleam in the hedges, the prodigals turn their taces homewards 
for glad re-unions and Christmas festivides. Then thousands 
of weary toilers in the great metropolis crowd to sut^bcation 
London's immense stations, where whole communities, 
grouped together, await impatiently the moment when they 
shall again see the Yule logs brightly burning on the country 
hearths. There, too, come weary and embrowned travellers, 
from India's surniy clime and Canada's snowy wastes, to join 
in sympathetic greeting and thanksgiving : to see once more 
with moist eyes the tamiliar faces, and view again, with 
swelling hearts, " that spot where the detiniteness of early 
memories is inwrought with affection and kindly acquaintance 
with all neighbors." Deeply ingrained, all-pervading, hearty 
and general in expression is this love for home in the English 
speaking people ; but here in x\merica the cosmopolitan 
character of the inhabitants, the rnsh and hurr}' for food, 
position, and affluence, for the most part allow but little op- 
portunity lor the expression of a general kind of this innate 
arteclion, '' that spreads not by sentimental elfort and reflec- 
tion, but as a sweet habit of the blood." Yet glimpses of 
it, and yearnings for a heartfelt demonstration of this love 
ot home, may be obtained on the national holidays, when 
old and young, freed temporaril}' from the corroding care 
and worry of business and household, again view that be- 
loved spot in their native land, '* whence the}' get the love 
of tender kinship for the face of earth, for the labors men go 



lO THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

forth to, for the sounds and accents that haunt and ofive that 
early home a familiar, unmistakable difference amidst the 
future widenings of knowledge." 

Such a spot is Newport to thousands of American citizens 
throughout the world. Renowned, as she is, in song ; famed 
in history ; with a glorious past and a still more glorious 
future ; beautiful and enchanting to strangers, she is still 
more so to her sons and daughters from this very halo of 
associations surrounding her, from these fragrant memories, 
and from this common yearning to be " rooted in some spot 
of a native life and in some spot of a native land." 

With such a sentiment widely prevalent among her sons 
and daughters, is it any wonder, then, that steps should be 
ttiken to satisfy this deep longing? 

And thus it came about that during the winter there ap- 
peared, in the local papers, several paragraphs encouraging 
the idea of a re-union of Newport's children. 

It was well that the winter time was chosen for the first 
appearance in print of a suggestion relative to the proposition 
to have a renewal of the scenes and pleasures of '59, for, had 
it been delayed until the period when all Newport is busily 
engaged in making preparations for the season's harvest, or 
until the summer, which is the hey-day of the business man 
of this Citv, it would have made no more impression upon the 
mind than a flash of lightning — it would have been seen and 
almost instantly forgotten. But, coming as it did during the 
passing of the long and dreary months of Newport lite, when 
the present affords but little opportunity for interesting- 
converse, and compels one's thoughts and speech to turn to 
events that have passed into history or are promised for the 
future, the suggestion did not remain entirely disregarded, 
for, while no formal or concerted action was taken with a 
view to ascertaining what the public sentiment was respecting 
it, or what prospects there were of success, if any attempt was 
made to i:>ut the idea into practical shajie, it became the topic 
of many and many a conversation between those who 
remembered, or participated in, the glories incident to the 





ROGERS IIKtII SCHOOL. 



±2 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

twenty-third day of August, 1859. Particular!}' was this the 
case during the first few weeks of the present year. But, 
like many another topic of local interest, the Re-Union spark, 
which had never been remarkable either for size or brilliancy, 
passed from view. Had it never been revived, it is quite 
certain that, however brief its existence had, apparently, been, 
it was entitled to a grateful remembtance for the pleasure it 
had given those who, having advanced to that stage of life's 
career which is best illustrated by "a sere and yellow leaf," 
had turned to that period in their existence when, in the 
prime of manhood, they had given freely of their time and 
their substance towards making the tirst great gathering of 
the natives the unquestioned success, which is emphasized in 
Mr. Mason's charming historical pages. 

While it is true that the youth of to-day manifested some 
interest in the matter, it is ecpially a fact that the deep and 
abiding desire for a celebration was e\'inced far more by the 
aged, for they, having experienced the delights of the hand- 
grasping, and the welcoming home of the returning ones on 
the last occasion, were more than anxious for an opportunity 
to once again see the inpouring of Newport's absent Sons and 
Daughters, and to join hands with those who had remained 
by the native heath, in preparing a litting welcome for these 
children, ere they, the older ones, passed to the Great Be}'ond. 
These venerable citizens knew that at least two-thirds of 
the companions of their youth who were present on that 
memorable day in '59, were 

Not lost, but gone hetbre, 

and they realized that the time was approaching when they, 
too, would be summoned by Him who ordereth all things for 
good, to join the great and silent majority. These tiioughts and 
these desires gave to the aged ones a peculiar pleasure which 
the 3T)unger element does not compreiiend, and there need be 
little wonder that the citizens whose life's sands have nearly run 
out, longed for the greater pleasure that would come to them 
through a realization of their wishes in liiis particular. 

It is a little singular that up to the time when matters took 
some definite form, no sort of opposition was manifested. No 



FIRST THOUGHTS. I3 

one suggested that a re-union of Sons and Daughters, and 
Brothers and Sisters, was either undesirahle or inexpedient. 
So far as the matter became a subject of conversation at all, 
it was universally conceded that the suggestion was a very 
happy one, and no time more appropriate than after a lapse 
of twenty-five years. But, whether it was that the wise ones 
were aware of the vast amount of time and labor tiiat would 
be required to bring such an undertaking to a successful 
issue, or, that the inexperienced and more vouthtul citizens 
were not sutficiently imbued with sentiment, matters little — 
the subject was lost sight of tbr many weeks. Time and 
time again had the name of Miss Coe been mentioned as that 
of the lady who, in 1859, ^^'^'^ largely instrumental in stirring 
up the citizens ot Newport to a realizing sense of how pleasant 
a thing it would be to have a re-union of the absent ones, and 
not infrequently was the wisli expressed that some equally 
enthusiastic individual might be found, who could, and who 
would, lead on to another such agreeable and glorious 
occasion. It is certain, however, that dormant though the 
matter remained in Newport, where of all other places in the 
world the most interest should have been manifested, it was 
not lost sight of by some of the children who had wandered 
afar oft' to seek those opportunities for advancement which 
their insular place of nativity does not aft'ortl. It has been 
learned that in many of the large centres, Newport boys got 
together to discuss the desirability of " going home " to what, 
to the vast majority' of them, would be their first re-union. 
The result of these gatherings was that several communications 
on the subject were addressed to the Mayor of this City, the 
Honorable Robert S. Franklin, who, it may here be 
remarked, lent generous aid to the undertaking from the 
time when he first brought the subject betbre the City Council, 
until the curtain had fallen upon the" last act relating to it. 
These young men, aye, and the men of middle lite as well as 
those of mature years, longed to return to the home of their 
childhood ; they longed tor an opportunity to look upon 
familiar scenes and faces. Many of them had never once 



14 THE NEWPORT RE-tJNlON. 

gazed upon their birth phice since the da\' wlien parent and 
friend hade them God-speed as the\' went out from it in their 
search for employment and fortune in distant places. The 
desire of such as these to return was a hundred fold jrreater 
than that manitested by those who, residing within easy 
distances from their former home, had frequently availed 
themselves of the splendid facilities for New England travel 
to i-eturn occasionally and receive a cordial greeting from 
friends, and take cognizance of the fact that again Newport 
was becoming a place of great importance ; that renewed 
prosperity had come to her, and that in all things relating to 
municipal government she was keeping pace with larger and 
more important business centres. These long absent Sons 
and Daughters had been experiencing a degree of curiosity 
which did not, tVom the very nature of things, fmd its way 
into the breasts of those who were enabled to make frequent 
homeward trips. They read in far-off' newspapers of the 
magnificent drives that had been laid out, of the palatial 
residences that well nigh covered the Clilfs, of the gorgeous 
equipages that were to be seen, and of the thousand and one 
improvements that had been made within the City's borders. 
They had read of the enterprise of their fellow townsman, 
Mr. George H. Norman, who with his own capital had con- 
structed the Water Works which have proved, even thus far, 
to be of great benefit to the community at large. As well had 
the}- been informed of the beauties of the Casino, which Mr. 
James Gordon Bennett had caused to be erected as a means 
of increasing the attractions of the little City-by-the-Sea in 
\\ hich he takes so deep an interest. 

It is no wonder, then, that these Sons and Daughters longed 
for the time to come when, with those whom they had known 
in by-gone days, they might enjoy looking upon all these 
thinofs, and realizin<r how much had been clone towards 
giving their native Cit\' the desirable prominence she now 
enjoys. 

And the time came when the opportunity they craved was 
aflbrded them. 



CHAPTER II. 



TAKING SHAPE. 

Weeks went by, and, as has been seen, all thought of the 
proposed re-union had passed from the minds of those, who, 
in Newport, had, during the preceding wear}- months, con- 
sidered the merits of the subject. But, nevertheless, the fact 
remained that the topic had been discussed. There was an 
advantage in that, for, whenever a new project is brought 
forward here, the dear, good, conservative people must do so 
much talking about it, or it will never go down. The way 
had been paved for action. The seed had been sown in the 
dreary winter; it was to take root in the Spring time. But 
the sappling was destined to encounter many a chilly blast, 
which threatened its very existence. Its proportions were to 
be scoffed at, while prognostication after prognostication was 
to be made that its life would not be of sufficient length to 
permit of the development »f the much coveted fruit. Yet 
the undertaking was to have its protectors, also ; it was to be 
carefull}' nurtured ; it was to be labored for, and those labors 
were to receive generous encouragement — in fact it was des- 
tined to assume proportions that the most enthusiastic of its 
friends had scarcely dared hope for, and, tinally, it was to 
yield such fruit as made every citizen of Newport proud of 
the day and the occasion. 

It was not until the sixth day of May that the matter took 
practical form, and then it was made the subject of a 
communication from the Ma\'or to the Cit}' Council, a copy of 
which is given herewith : — 

City of Newport, R. I., | 

Executive Department, May 6, 1SS4. j 

Gentlemen of the City Couneil : — 

I have latelv received several coninninications from fjcntlemeii 
living in New York City, who were horn in Newport, saying tliey had 



l6 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

informally discussed the feasibility of having a re-union of the Sons 
and Daughters of Newport, at some time during the present Summer, 
and asking the co-operation of the City Council in the matter. To 
these, I have replied that I would suggest the subject at the regular 
meeting of the City Coinicil in May, and therefore present it at this 
time. 

It is now twenty-five years since the first Re-Union was held. To 
make an affair of this kind a success, will require much time, labor, 
and expense. Should you feel favorably disposed to assist in 
carrying out their desire, it has been suggested that the Fourth of 
July would be an appropriate day for the occasion. 

ROBERT S. FRANKLIN, 

Mayor. 

This document was read and received in the usual way b}' 
both Boards, but, as it was unaccompanied by any resolution, 
it looked as if nothing further would be done with the subject. 
Towards the close of the session of the City Council, how- 
ever, a citizen of Newport, who subsequently became the Secre- 
tary of the Re-Union Committee, had a conference with Alder- 
man Cottrell, and, at the suggestion of that gentleman, wrote a 
skeleton resolution making an appropriation for the proposed 
undertaking. The all important document was handed to 
Captain John Waters, the representative of the Fourth Ward in 
the upper branch of the City Council, and, upon his motion, 
it was passed imanimously by the Board of A.ldermen, an ac- 
tion in which the Common Council immediately concurred. 
The names of the Committee having been inserted b}- Mayor 
Franklin and President Barker, the resolution read as follows, 
namely : — 

RESOLUTION OP' THE CITY COUNCIL. 

[Passed May 6, 18S4.] 
Resolved, That a Joint Special Committee, consisting of Alder- 
men Waters and Kaull, and Common Councilmen Stanhope, Wilbor 
and (ireen, be, and hereby are, aj^pointed to make and carry out the 
arrangements for a re-union of the Sons and Daughters of New- 
pcM't on Jul}' qtli next, and that the sum ol' eighteen hundred dollars 
is hereby appropriated for the purpose of defray ing the expense of 
the proposed celebration. 



TAKING SHAPE. I7 

On the 9th day of May, the Committee of the City Council, 
named in the foree^oing resohition, met and organized, in part, 
by the ek'ction of Aklerman Waters as Chairman. A very 
hirge measure of the success attending the Re-Union is due to 
this fact, for the Chairman worked with a degree of intelH- 
gence and enthusiasm that was most creditable to him and 
helpful to the Committee. At this meeting, Ex-Mayor Swin- 
burne, who had been the Chief Marshal of the Re-Union of 
1859, Mr. Frank G. Harris, and Mr. Henry W. Cozzens were 
invited to become members of the Committee, and they readily 
accepted the invitation, making known, then and there, the 
fact that the movement had their hearty sympathy and would 
receive their cordial support. 

B}' this Committee of eight, then, it was determined to hold 
a public meeting in the Opera House, " in order," as the call 
subsequently stated, '' to ascertain the wishes of our citizens, 
and to make such preliminary arrangements as may be sug- 
gested." 

To this meeting were invited, also, a large number ot sons 
of New^port in other cities, for the Committee desired to have 
an expression of opinion from representative men abroad 
as to the advisability of proceeding with the undertaking. 
None came, however, but several of them wrote very pleasant 
letters in which the heartiest co-operation was promised. 
Among the most interesting communications received were 
those of Mr. Robert S. Covell, of Boston, who wrote that 
" nothing but recent afflictions will prevent our joining with 
kind friends and relatives in dear old Newport on that occa- 
sion ; " of Mr. W. G. Peckham, of New York, who said that, 
" the Newporters who knock around the world want very much 
to meet their old cronies in a crowd, and have an old fashioned 
Fourth of July together:" of Dr. W. T. Bull, of New York, 
who, while regretting his inability to attend the meeting, wrote, 
" ])ut, so soon as ^•our plans are formed, if there be any 
assistance that I can render, I shall be pleased to be at your 
service ;" of Major Henry Bull, of Middletown, who stated to 
the Committee that, " my sympathies are fully in accord with 



1 8 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

the measures you are to consider ;" of Mr. Freeborn Cogge- 
shall, of Providence, who made known the fact that he should 
co-operate heartily with the Committee in the great undertak- 
ing ; of Mr. A. M. Cahoone, of New York, who expressed his 
sympathy with the movement; of Mr. Charles M. Bull, of 
New York, who indicated that such a re-union of old New- 
porters was to him a very pleasant idea and he hoped the 
Committee might be very successful in carrying out their 
programme; of Mr. Walter Nichols, of Brooklyn, who made 
a pleasant reference to the celebration of '59 and encouraged 
the undertaking of '84 ; of Mr. David H. Weeden, of Provi- 
dence, whose letter was the forerunner of valuable assistance 
which he rendered the Committee, and of Mr. E. W. Gould, 
of New York, who wrote encouragingl}' saying he saw no 
reason why this year's Re-Union siiould not be more largely 
attended than the one of '59. 

The meeting was held in the Opera House, which 
was kindly loaned by the Messrs. Bull, on the i6th of 
May, and the proceedings were enlivened with music 
furnished by the Newport Brass Band, the members very 
■generously donating their services. Candor and truthfulness 
compel the recording of the fact that there was not a large 
attendance by any means, but, fortunately for the project, the 
audience included many of the very best citizens of the place, 
who were evidently actuated by the highest and best motives 
in being present. 

The meeting was presided over by Ex-Governor Charles C. 
VanZandt, who was very felicitously introduced by Alderman 
Waters, the Chairman of the Re-Union Committee. Gov- 
ernor Van Zandt was in a most happy mood, for the occasion 
was one to which, through the tender affection and deep 
interest he has at all times manifested for his native City, he 
could do complete justice. In his address he referred at some 
length to the success of the last Re-Union, and urged one and 
all to do everything in their power towards making the pro- 
posed celebration an equally pleasant one. The distin- 
guisiied gentleman reminded his hearers that they were blest 



Taking shape. 19 

as few other communities were, for their liome, he said, was 
one of the loveliest that the sun shone upon, and endowed with 
attractions wliich made e\'ery native Newporter justly proud of 
the fact that he was born within the confines of tliis ciiarming 
American seaside resort. Thev nuist take no backward step, 
he said, neither must tliey stand still, but it was their bounden 
duty — a dut\' they should look upon as a most agreeable 
one — to proceed with their Re-Union work, and once more 
extend to the far-off Sons and Daughters such a cordial in\ita- 
tion to return home as would be alike creditable to their best 
impulses and to the well known hospitality of Newport people. 

The Honorable William P. Sheffield was the next speaker, 
and in the course of an able and exceedingly appropriate ad- 
dress, he paid a touching tribute to the City of his adoption. 
He spoke of the devotees of science, art, literature and divin- 
ity, with whose names the pages of Newport's history were 
emblazoned, and from his lips fell a prediction that tlie tuture 
of this City would be no less conspicuous than the record of 
her past. The speaker said he believed in the re-unions of 
communities as well as of families, for much good must come 
Irom such occasions if they were conducted as that of 1859 
had been, and as it was proposed the coming one should be. 
The speech of the eminent citizen included a very delightful 
review of the prominent part which Newport had at all times 
taken in the advancement of civilization, and it was brought 
to a close by an expression of hearty sympathy with the move- 
ment they had been called together to discuss, and for the 
success of which he promised his earnest co-operation. 

Mr. Lucius D. Davis spoke briefly for the adopted citizens 
of the place, pleasantlv sketching the City's growth and 
her increased importance in all respects over the time when 
the last Re-Union was held. He heartily endorsed the propo- 
sition which was before the meeting, and wished it an abun- 
dant success. 

Brief addresses were made by Ex-Mayor Swinburne, 
General Burdick, and Ex-Alderman Lewis Brown, and at 
their conclusion the chairman asked from the audience an 



20 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

expression as to whether it was desirable to proceed with the 
preparations for a Re-Union. There was a very hearty 
affirmative response, but not a single negative sound was 
heard. 

At the conclusion of the exercises in the Opera House, the 
Committee of the City Council met in the City Hall, and for 
some time were entjaijed in discussing what had best be done 
to promote and secure the success of the undertaking. The 
organization of the Committee was completed by the election 
of Mr. Frank G. Harris as Secretary. It was agreed on all 
hands that it would be advisable to invite a number of citizens 
to take part in all future proceedings incident to the proposed 
celebration, and with that end in view the following circular 
was sent to some forty or fifty well known residents : — 

Ncxvport. R. /., ^fay /;, 1884. 
Dear Sir : — 

I have the honor to int'orni vou that tlie Coniniittee of tlie Citv 
Council, appointed to make arrangements for the proposed Re-Union 
of the Sons and Daughters of Newport, have requested me to invite 
you to become a member of a Citizens' Committee to assist them in 
the undertaking. 

The Committee will meet in the Common Council Chamber, on 
Monday Evening, 19th inst., at 8 o'clock, wlien you are earnestlv 
requested to be present, in order tliat a thorough working organization 
may be etTected. 

Yours, truly, 

John Waters, 

Chairman. 

The meeting called for the evening of Monday, May 19th, 
was largely attended, and no difficulty was experienced by 
Aldermen Langley and Kaull, Councilman Greene, Ex-Mayor 
Swinburne, and Mr. Henry W. Cozzens, who were appointed 
to nominate persons to fdl the various ofHces and form the 
several committees, in making wise and judicious selecdons. 
As completed upon the evening in question, the Re-Union 
organization was as follows : — 



TAtvING SHAPE. 21 

CHAIRMAN, 

JOHN WATERS. 

SECRETARY, 

FRANK G. HARRIS. 

TREASURER, 

CHARLES T. HOPKINS. 

CHIEF MARSHAL, 

WILLIAM J. SWINBURNE. 

EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF ALL COMMITTEES, 

ROBERT S. FRANKLIN, MaycM-. 

COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS. 

Henrv \V. Cozzens, Chairman : William J. Cozzens, Sec- 
retary; Geor<;e p. Lawton, William J. Swinburne, Alhert 
C. Landers, Francis .Stanhope, and Willlvm A. Peckham. 

committee on collation. 

.Stephen P. Slocum, CJiairnia)! ; William A. Peckhaim, 
Secretary ; Willta^! O. Greene, George P. Lawton, Thomas 
Burlingham. John G. Weaver, Jr.. and Henry F. Barnard. 

committee on printing. 

Lewis Brown, Chairman ; Frank G. Harris, Secretary; 
Lucius D. Davis, Edward Newton, John P. Sanborn, and 
Christopher M. Lee. 

committee on illuminations. 

Francis Stanhope, Chairman; Henry W. Cozzens, Secre- 
tary. William A. Stedman, Albert C. Landers, William O. 
Greene, and Charles H. Birdick. 

committee on ARRANCJEMENT OF TENT. 

John Waters, Chairman; David S. Carr, Secretary; H. 
Augustus Kaull, John (t. Weaver, Jr., Henry F. Barnard, 
William F. WiLiunt, and Charles II. Burdick. 

committee on music and salutes. 
Henry E. Turner, Jr., Chairman; Melville Bull, Secre- 
tary; John Waters, John Gilpin, and Arnold L. Burdick. 



22 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

COMMITTEE OX THE PRESS. 

John Gilpin, Chairmaji ; Edward W. Higbee, Secretary ; 
Lucius D. DA^'IS, Frank G. Harris, John P. Sanborn, 
Theophilus T. Pitman, Frederick M. Hammett, and Benja- 
min W. Pearce. 

committee on correspondence. 

Frank G. Harris, William J. Cozzens, ^VILLIAM P. Shef- 
field, Jr., Patrick J. Gaiain, Edward Newton, Edward B. 
Harrington, John Gilpix, and Frederick M. Hammett. 

committee on finance. 
Job T. Langley, i7nu'r///a// : John J. Peckham, Secretary ; 
Arnold L. Burdick, Thomas P. Peckham, Patrick J. Gal- 
viN, and Edward B. Harrington. 

COMMITTEE ON RECEPTION OF GUESTS. 

Henry E. Turner, M. D., C7m/r/i/a// : Rea'. Mahlon Van 
HoRNE, Secretary: John Waters, H. Augustus Kaull, Wil- 
liam O. Greene, William F. Wilbor. Francis Stanhope, 
James B. Cottrell, and Job T. Langley. 

COMMITTEE ON MILITARY. 

William A. wStedman, Chairiuaii : Henry E. Turner, Jr., 
Secretary; Melville Bull, Aunold L. Burdick. and William 
F. Wilbor. 

Subsequently changes were made in some of the commit- 
tees, and one or two new committees were formed. Mr. Wil- 
liam A. Peckham declining to serve, his place on the Commit- 
tee of Arrangements was taken by Mr. William S. Cranston, 
and the Yacancy in the Committee on Collation tilled by Mr. 
William J. Underwood. The chairmanship of the Commit- 
tee on Reception and that of the Committee on Music and 
Salutes having been resigned by Dr. Turner and Mr. H. E. 
Turner, Jr., those positions were finally occupied by Ex- 
Mayor Slocum and General Burdick, respecdvely. Later 
on, Mr. WilHain J. Underwood was added to the Committee 
on Arrangements, and the Committee on Collation having 
tendered their resignations, Messrs. A. L. liurdick, H. A. 
Kaull, and Lewis J>rown were made a substitute committee. 
Efficient work was done bv Messrs. W. O. Greene, Thomas 



TAKING SHAPE. 



23 



Burlirighani, and Lewis Brown, who were given charge of 
all police arrangements ; Messrs. G. P. Lawton and A. L. 
Burdick were made the Committee on Carriages, and Mayor 
Franklin and Messrs. Lee, Galvin, Sheffield, Jr., and Davis 
w^ere appointed a Committee on Speakers; and these latter, 
with the assistance of the Committee on Correspondence, 
succeeded in obtaining several eminent orators for the occasion. 
The various committees set to work with commendable 
enthusiasm, although almost immediately after the meeting of 
May 19th, there were heard murmurings of doubt on a 
great many sides. From this time forward it was almost 
entirely an up hill journey. As is usual in such organizations, 
tiiere were diverse views expressed upon a great many of the 
topics introduced for consideration, and occasionally much 
skill and forbearance were necessary in order to prevent the 
entire project falling to the ground. Indeed, even after the 
preparations had been for some time underway, a motion was 
made at one of the meetings of the Committee to the effect 
that it was inexpedient to proceed with the undertaking, and 
this was barely defeated by a vote of fourteen to ten. Prior 
to the vote being taken, a very spirited discussion had been 
indulged in, and when the question was finally settled an im- 
pression prevailed that one eflect the opposition that had been 
developed would have, was that it would stimulate every 
member to greater efforts for the success of the Re-Union. 




CHAPTER III. 



THE CORRESPONDENCE. 

Immediately after the appointment of the various commit- 
tees, several of the gentlemen who were placed in charge of 
the correspondence began to congratulate themselves upon 
what thev believed to be a fact, namely, that their labors 
would be very light indeed. They had reckoned without 
their host, for from the moment when they tirst got together 
to see what was necessary to be done in their department, 
their labors were incessant, and involved personal sacrifices 
which need not be referred to here. At the first meeting of 
the Committee it was decided to send a copy of the following 
letter to every absent Newporter whose address could be ob- 
tained : — 

Newport, Rhode Island, May 32, 1SS4. 

At a meeting of the City Council, held May 6th, it was unani- 
mously voted to have a Re-Union of the Sous and Daughters of New- 
port on July Fourth next. 

It is earnestly desired that as many as possible of the Sons and 
Daughters of this City, who have sought homes and fortune in otlier 
places, shall return and join with the present citizens of their native 
place in a grand re-union, in order that youthful associations may 
be revived, earlv friendships renewed and strengthened, and new 
ones formed. W^e therefore extend to you a liearty invitation to be 
present and unite with us in the festivities of the occasion. 

Many ot the chilchen of Newport are widely scattered, and it is 
impossible to ascertain the names and addresses of all. vShould you 
know of any whose names have not occurred to the Committee, ^ ou 
will oblige us 1)\- extending to them acordial in\ itation to be present. 

Books will be provitled at the City Ilall for the registration of 
names, and every ])erson so registering will be furnished with some 
distinguishing badge to secure proper recognition in all (he ceremo- 
nies of the day. 



H 
X 
n 

3D 

G 
Z 

o 

2 

> 

o 




THE CORRESPONDENCE. 



25 



You can aid the Committee if, after consiiltin;^- with the Sons and 
Daughters of Newport in jour vicinity, you will name some one to 
reply, in their behalf, to the words of welcome to be extended to 
them by His Honor, the Mayor, and others. 

To all who were born in Newport or have ever made it their 
home, it is superfluous to say that her historical memories, her tender 
family associations, and the charms which Nature lias so lavishly 
bestowed, are more than sufticient reason to induce them, not onh' to 
gather around the hearthstones dear to them, but cheerfully to do all 
in their power to promote the success and advance the happiness of 
the day which we desire to make most memoral>le in licr history. 

Robert S. Franklin, Mavor. 

Frank G. Harris, 

Edward Newton, 

Edward B. Harrington, 

John Gilpin, 

Fred M. Hammktt, 

William J. Cozzens, 

William P. Sheffield, Jr., 

Patrick J. Galvin, 

Corrcspoiidotcc Coniiiiittcc. 

How best to obtain the addresses of the absent ones, was a 
matter that gave the Committee much concern. Advertise- 
ments asking for them were inserted in the local papers, but 
these brought forth very poor results. Finallv a method was 
suggested that proved eminently successful. Man}- hundreds 
of postal cards, addressed to the "Re-Union Committee, City 
Hall, Newport," and having upon the reverse side a request 
that the persons receiving them would write the names and 
addresses of absent relatives and friends and drop the cards 
in the post-office, were distributed throughout the Citv. The 
plan acted like a charm, for bv each mail there came scores 
upon scores of addresses, so that it became necessary to have 
over three thousand copies of the invitation circular printed. 
How many weary hours were passed in sorting and indexing 
the more than three thousand names, in folding as many 
circulars, and sealing and directing the same number of 
envelopes, need not be told ; it is sufficient to say that the 



26 THK NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

Committee gave their time cheerfully and labored almost in- 
cessantly, and when, finally, the last invitation had been sent 
out, they congratulated themselves upon the fact that a spirit 
of entire harmony had prevailed in all their doings. 

While the invitations did not ask for any acknowledgment, 
several scores of the Sons and Daughters wrote letters ex- 
pressing deep sympathy with the movement, and their love of 
that spot which it was their privilege to call "home." 

It is impossible to print all of these letters, and yet it would 
be a source of great pleasure to do so, for one and all breathe 
a spirit of devotion to the native heath and to the delightful 
associations that surround it. Extracts of some of the epistles 
are given below, together with the names of all who ac- 
knowledged the invitations. 

Rear Admiral John J. Almy, United States Navy, wrote an 
interesting^ letter of which the following; is an extract : — 

" As a native of Newport — of which I have always felt proud — 
it would aflbrd me much pleasure and happiness to be among and 
mingle with tlie Sons and Daughters of that noble ' Citv-by-the-vSea,' 
famous foi- historical incidents and associations, and noted for the 
highest order of natural beauties and attractions which surround it ; 
and from time immemorial has ever commanded the admiration of 
all foreign and nati\e tourists. In speaking of Newport, and one's 
native soil, I am reminded of an incident which occuri'ed fifty years 
ago, when I was a midshipman, cruising on the coast of South 
America. The Hon. William Hunter, a distinguished and honored 
son of Newport, was at that time United States Minister to Brazil. 
Whenever we went into Rio Janeiro I always visited him in the most 
friendly and sociable manner. Outside of his family I was the only 
Rhode Islander in that part of the world. He would say : ' Come 
here, young man, sit down by me and let us talk about Rhode Island 
and Newport,' and then further remarked, ' I love R-R-R-Rhode 
Island (rolling the r, as was his wont), and I love dear old New- 
port.' Though five thousand miles distant, his mind and his thoughts 
dwelt most aftectionately upon his native town and State, and I mnst 
say that his sentiments and the manner of expressing them tended to 
quicken and increase my admiration for the City whose sons and 
daughters will honor themselves wiiile meeting together to honor the 
place of their nativity. 



THE CORRESPONDENCE. 27 

Mr. George S. Coe, of New York, in replying, wrote: — 
'*It would (^ive ine great pleasure to accept the part you have so 
kindly assigned me, but at the moment I am engrossed with duties 
which may prevent my attending. If I can he there, I will come to 
join the assemblage among the grateful and loyal sons, but you can- 
not count upon me to engage in a place of honor." 

Rev. William C. Leverett's pleasant letter, written from 
Carlisle, Pa., contained the following: — 

"Allow me to give you my very best wishes for the successful 
issue of your plans for this commemoration. 1 trust that the Re- 
Union may bring together the Sons and Daughters of • dear old 
Newport ' from far and near, and manv others who. like mvself, 
retain cherished associations and pleasant memories of residence 
there. And all will rejoice in the growth, improvement and 
prosperity of \our l)eautiful City-l)y-the-Sea." 

Mr. Benjamin D. Silliman, of New York, was unable to 
be present, but in declining said : — 

" Your invitation reminds me of the fact tliat my father tlelivcred 
the 4th of Jul}' oration at Newport, I think in 1803 — eighty-one 
years ago. I am very proud of my birth-place and of its Sons and 
Daughters, and it would give me special pleasure to take the part so 
kindlv tendered me. but I must forego it. as it will be impossible for 
me to be present on the occasion. I grieve to inform vou of the 
death, on the 30th of May, of my brother, Augustus E. Silliman. than 
whom Newport had no worthier or more loyal son." 

Mr. Peter J. Turner, of Indianapolis, wrote as follows: — 
"Until this hour I have hoped to avail myself of vour invitation 
and join old frientls and townsmen on so happy an occasion. I now 
Ljnd it impossible to leave, and must express the deepest regret not to 
meet Sons and Daughters of the treasured home of m\ liappy child- 
hood and vouth. Blessings on her and them." 

Mr. George T. Hammond, of Commack, N. Y., wrote : — 
"I trust all who were present at the first Re-L'nion will make an 
eftbrt to once more visit the shrine of their nativity. It is true our 
ranks have been thinned bv death, but with all honor to those who 
have 'gone l>cfore,' let us iill them up. remembering tliat the battle 
of life is still going on, and this will, in all prol)al)ility, be the last oc- 
casion when we, wdio met a quarter of a century ago, can meet again 
in Newport in a general Re-Union." 



28 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Wanton Wickham Baker, of Middleport, 
N. Y., wrote the following: — 

•'Your communication readied me last e\enin^\ and brinj^s many 
liapp\- and liallovved memories. I will pass the day in recallin<2^ 
memories of the venerated dead, and memories of Newport. 1 am 
now over eig]it\ \ears of aye. and am more proud of mv Yew Eng- 
land descent from the Saltonstalls. Winthrops and Wantons than if I 
were the descendant of an En<j;lish Earl." 

Mr. Isaac La\Nrence, writing from New York, expressed 
the pleasure he felt in being numbered amongst those Sons 
and Daughters to whom an invitation to the Re-Union exer- 
cises had been extended. In conclusion he said : — 

'•During the })ast six months I ha\e visited most (jf Canada and 
the United States, hut nowhere ha\e I seen so chaniing a place as 
Newport." 

Rev. M. J. Talbot, of Providence, wrote an interesting- 
letter, of which the following is an extract : — 

'•A procession passes before me. of honored men and excellent 
women, who ha\e. since the time of my residence in Newport, 
passed on t(j the unseen. The control of public aflairs has passed 
into the hands of new and younger men. who evidently lack 
notliing in determination and enterprise in maintaining the honor and 
enhancing the beauty of the municipality established by their 
predecessors. The real prosperity of Newport will always be a 
matter of gratification to all who have enjoyed the privilege of 
being her citizens, even if not her Sons. Though not myself a 
'Son of Newport,' I ga\e to that City a son, now resident in the 
far West." 

Mr. Thomas Vernon, of Providence, in accepting tlie invi- 
tation, added : — 

''Newport has a history which may well elicit the pride and 
affection of her sons; and the Re-Union will have the effect of inten- 
sifying the loyalty of her Sons and Daughters." 

Mr. William G. Turner, writing from sunny Italy, said : — 

•'I long to see mv native town ; and, as well as the old and cherished, 
a new generation which has developed with the material growth 
of the place during m\ fourteen years of voluntary exile. I must 
forego the pleasure, however, because my present interest for home 
binds me here moie than ever until next Sj^ring." 



*rHE CORRESPONDENCE. 



29 



Hon. August Belmont, of New York, in acknowledging the 
receipt of an invitation, wrote : — 

" Though my family and I have made Newport our vSuinmer 
home for the last 2^ years, only one of my children, my youngest 
son. Raymond Rodgers Belmont, can claim to he a son of Newport, 
he lieingl)orn at my place ' Bythesea.' We will take great pleasure, 
however, in complying with vour invitation." 

Rev. William H. Fish, of South Scituate, Mass., sent an 
exceedingly interesting note, of which the following is an 
extract : — 

" I am a Newport hoy of 1S12, and can just rememl)er the • vSep- 
temher gale,' the removing of the old trees of the -Mair and the 
setting out of the new^ ones ; also the branding of the counterfeiter — 
Ruggs, was it? — who stood in the pillory an hour and then received 
the red hot iron hissing to his teeth almost, I think. ,So it is quite 
an 0/1/ Newport that I know ; and most intimateh' the pupils of 
bright, good old 'Johnny Rtxlman's' school. The chief and promi- 
nent men of that time 1 have a distinct remembrance of" 

Hon. Bernard Gilpin, of Annapolis Royal, wrote very 
interesting!}- as follows : — 

" Sir — I beg to thank you for your kind iu\ itation. and. though old 
age prevents me from being present in body, yet in mind I shall cer- 
tainly be present amongst the old scenes and mild skies of my native 
land, growing dear as Hfe adxances and age o\ershadows me. Mv 
earliest impressions, and, indeed, tiie only ones, of shots Hred in 
anger were there made. The -Nimrod,' sloop-of-war, one of I lardv's 
(that Hardy wdio afterwards kissed the d\ing Nelson.) cruisers, wh(» 
held the blockade of New \'ork. held Newport verv tightly under 
her guns; e\ery Hue day being seen from the beach, as she was so 
closely in that the lace upon her officers" uniforms, the boatswains" 
whistle and the light airs from her band scared the lishermen from 
their toil. She pounced upon an unluck\ molasses droggcr Ironi the 
West Indies, which, to escape her pursuer, shoaled her water. 
running into the shallow water of the beach. The -Xinirod' backing 
her topsails came into stays, sending in hei" boats to burn her. This 
made a great excitement in town ; the Artillery Compan\ marched 
their beautiful brass guns. (1 hope they have tliem \et.) and placed 
them in a battery on the back of the beach amongst the sand hills, 
Hring upon the boats. This drew the fire of the 'Ninn'od' upon 
them over the heads of her boats, and things were lively for a time. 



30 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

As a cliikl, hckl in in\' nurse's arms at tlie window. I remember the 
crowds ot" men running; towards the l)each, a wild figure on horse- 
back now and again gaHoping witli them, and at short intervals came 
a bang, rattling the window sashes — the '•Nimrod's' heavy guns. A 
life or two was lost, and at low tide the burnt drogger was towed 
into the harbor, when even the \'ankee bovs were delighted with 
the candy dropping from her burnt ribs. I fear I have trespassed on 
yoin* patience with mv long scrawl, scarcely legible, and, with the 
hope that some contemporar> ma\' be alive to remember the scene, 
I remain yours, 

Bkrnaki) Gilpin. 

Mrs. Abby Preufert, of Providence, was unable to be 
present, but wrote : — 

'•Although aged in years, I feel the keen disappointment of youth- 
ful davs as I write these lines. Very few present will have earlier 
or pleasanter recollections of that attractive isle than mvself. Twentv- 
live years ago I was with you, and it was one of the happiest days 
of mv life." 

Mrs. D. C. Ayres, in writing from Green Bay, Wis., said : — 

"■A recent visit there only strengthened the ties and clasped the 
links which held me. Although sixteen hundred miles of mountain 
and of prairie are between us, I shall be with you on the Fourth in 
mind and thought, and join lovingly in all of praise and lo\ ing hom- 
age which shall be paid to our home City. Qiieen of Beauty on 
land, and grandeiu' of ocean wave, long may she reign as America's 
loveliest city." 

Mr. James G. Cozzens, of Chicago, a son of the late Gov- 
ernor W. C. Cozzens, wrote as follows : — 

'' Nothing, I assure you, woidd aflbrd me more pleasure than to be 
present. I well remember the one held twenty-live years ago, in 
which I took so much interest and enjoyment. I firmly believe in 
the value of such meetings, and no one can hold more dear than I 
do the memories of all those charming spots of interest on that most 
beautiful of all islands — Aquidneck." 

Rear Admiral William Rogers Taylor, U. S. Navy, in 
sending regrets at being unable to be present, added : — 

"I beg you to believe that no one has a more affectionate remem- 
brance of his birthplace than I have, or who feels a warmer interest 
in its welfare than myself," 



THE CORRESPONDENCE. 31 

Mrs. William C. Folger, of Nantucket, wrote : — 
"■Altliough many years of my life have been passed away from my 
birthplace, yet ' her historical memories, her tender family associa- 
tions and the charms which Nature has so lavishly bestowed,' are 
to-day as dear to me as ever, and I am proud in claiming- to be a 
daughter of a city so renowned. I shall alwavs remain a l()\al 
daughter of Old Newport." 

Mr. P. S. Chase, of Providence, informed the Committee 
that : — 

•• Being a son of Newport, by brevet, so to speak, having married 
one of her daughters, I shall have great pleasure in accompanying 
Mrs. Chase to the exercises of the day." 

Mrs. S. M. Shipman, of Deep River, Conn., said: — 
" I love the dear old City where memory has ever lovingly lingered 
as in no other home that I have ever l^aown." 

Mr. Edward P. Peckham, of San Francisco, wrote : — 

" I cannot be with you in person, but in spirit I will be. May God 

bless you all, and give you health and strength to enjoy the festivities 

of the day." 

Mr. Henry T. Ireys, of Greenville, Miss., wrote as 
follows : — 

"Though a citizen of another vState, first ])y interest and now by 
family ties, yet I fondly linger in memory around my earlv home, 
mv youtliful days and the sad, yet pleasing memories of the past. 
No time, no change of location or incidents of life can sever us from 
our birthplace ; no curtain of forgetfulness ever descends between 
the cradle and the grave ; and old Newport, its surroundings and 
well-remembered faces, are as dear to me now, though absent, as 
thev were in the spring-time of life." 

Interesting; communications were also received from W. L. 
Northam, W. J. Coddington, H. B. Lawton, J. L. Hager- 
man and Rev. C. H. Malcom, of New York ; W. H. Bryer, 
Mrs. E. Kenney, Mrs. S. H. Brownell, G.J. Gibson, w!! H. 
Scott, G. S. Barnford, Miss S. Spooner, Mrs. J. B. Black, 
Mrs. A. Whitney, J. H. Cottrell, J. G. Keith, J. W. Gale, 
C. C. Ellery, H. H. Saftbrd, Mrs. M. E. Cogswell, MissM. 
G. Cogswell, Miss M. S. Kenney, H. O. T. Cameron, Mrs. 
W. B. Peirce, C. E. Hubbard, J. E. Ash, Rev. Alfred Man- 



32 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

Chester, Mrs. H. W. Carr, and S. H. Wales, of Provi- 
dence; J. II. Dougherty, Grace A. Lewis, and Mrs. Ray 
Spink, of Boston; Mrs. E. Wilcox, J. H. Boone and I. B. 
Brightman, of Fall River: J. J. Taylor, of Stamford, Conn. : 
T. H. Clarke, of Jamestown, R. I. ; J. E. Parmenter, of 
Lamar, Kansas; J. H. Peckham, and S. G. Wood, of North 
Attleboro', Mass. ; E. T. Allan, Jr., of Leech Lake, Minn. ; 
T. S. Brownell, of Warren, R. L ; T. R. Miles, of Ware- 
ham, Mass. ; A. B. Chadsey, W. E. Holloway, and L. A. 
Richards, of Wickford, R. L ; Clara E. Dennis, and Sarah 
A. Greene, of Portsmouth, R. L ; Mrs. A. H. Ailing, and 
Mrs. E. H. Parkhurst, of New Haven, Conn. ; E. A. Bush, 
of Adirondack, N. Y. ; C. J. Card, of Block Island, R. I. : 
J. Simpson, of San Antonio, Texas ; W. D. Tew^ of Taun- 
ton, Mass. ; V. S. Ireys,^f Minneapolis, Minn. ; Annie E. 
Giftbrd, of Charles River ; Mrs. B. Ellis, of East Greenwich, 
R. I.; C. W. Turner, of Middleboro*, Mass.; W. S. Sim- 
mons, of Pawtucket, R. I. ; J. W. Vose, of Jacksonville, 
Fla. ; S. Hilton, of Washington, D. C. ; J. E. L3'on, of 
Salem, Mass. ; O. H. Perry, of Newton, N. Y. ; O. tiffany, 
of Baltimore, Md. ; F. A. Dougherty, of Nyack-on-the- 
Hudson, N. Y. ; W.J. Turner, of Fort Coeur d'Alene, Idaho ; 
Rev. F. Upham, of Fairhaven, Mass. ; R. C. Topham and 
Mrs. S. E. Gabriel, of New Bedford, Mass. ; E. B. de Muro, 
of Tompkinsville, Fla. ; Mrs. E. V. Blake, of Jackson, N. 
H. ; O. H. Geflroy, of Philadelphia, and J. Scott, of Mani- 
tou. Col. 

Some very touching facts were developed through the labors 
of the Correspondence Committee, and they serve to show 
how^ impossible it is to destroy the love some people have for the 
spots where they chanced to first see the light of day. They 
never cease to love the old home ; they embrace every oppor- 
tunity that arises to converse about it, and they long for the 
time when circumstances will permit of their returning to 
their birthplace, in order that their last days may be passed 
amid the surroundings of their youth. But, on the other 
hand, long absence from their birthplace, the demands of 



THE CORRESPONDENCE. 33 

business and taniily cares, cause others who are not endowed 
with a super-abundance of sentiment, to forget, in a great 
measure, their former homes, and new associations, formed in 
the towns and States and countries of their adoption, help 
them to lose sight of those that once gave them pleasure. 
How much one Daughter of Newport loved her old home 
may be judged from the following touching incident, which 
was made known to the Committee by one who was thoroughlv 
acquainted with all the circumstances attending it. 

About a half century ago, a bright, lovely girl, who had 
been born in Newport some twenty years previously, left her 
home here to reside with near and dear relatives in the west- 
ern part of Massachusetts. Her tarry in the Bav State was 
of comparatively brief duration, for her beautiful face, and 
far more beautiful character soon made themselves felt in the 
breast of a young gentleman who in a short time made her 
his wile and took her to his home on the eastern borders of 
New York State. For over twenty-five years they passed a 
happy existence, and then the husband died, leaving a widow 
whose mourning for the departed one extended over almost 
as long a period as their married life had. During the earh' 
part of June of the present year, this lady, who then had 
reached the allotted term of human existence — three score 
years and ten — heard, while suffering from a serious illness, 
of the proposed Re-Union of tiie Sons and Daucrhters of 
Newport. From the moment when the first intbrmation 
regarding the intended celebration reached her, there was no 
theme upon which she conversed with greater interest. 
She wondered, and wondered, not once or twice, but scores 
upon scores of times, whether her friends in Newport would 
see to it that she was not lost sight of in the matter of send- 
ing invitations to the absent ones. As her illness became 
more serious, the desire of the aged one to be remembered in 
connection with the Re-Union increased also, until, finally, 
there appeared to be nothing that would bring absolute peace 
and comfort save the visit of the postman who should be tlie 
bearer of the much craved letter. Days passed however and 



34 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

the missive came not. Her children, grown to the estate of 
manhood and womanhood, surrounded and cared for her 
— as solicitous for her comfort during the vigils of the night 
as they were during the watches of the day. Yet one thing 
was lacking to complete the earthly happiness of their loved 
one, for, having led a Christian life, the dying parent was 
assured of a glorious hereafter. With a clear mind, yet 
wasted form, she calmly awaited the summons for her to 
cross the Dark River. The result of that would be her 
greatest joy, but it was ordained that ere she should be 
called upon to partake of the fruits of a blessed life, her 
extraordinary and particular longing for a something to occur 
was to be gratified. One day, towards the latter part of June, 
when that region was resplendent with the glories of nature, 
a letter carrier left at the pretty little residence of our dying 
friend the long looked-for, much wished for missive. If the 
children were happ}' that their mother was gratified, how 
much more so was she whose life's spark was so soon to go 
out forever? Ere the letter was handed to her, she knew it 
had come, for the countenances of those who surrounded her 
bedside indicated the fact. With her enfeebled hands she 
broke the seal and made an effort to read the contents ; but 
nature was too exhausted, and that privilege was denied her. 
She listened eagerlv, however, to e\'ery word and syllable, 
and when the reading was completed she uttered a fervent 
"Thank God, I was not forgotten !" Then she asked for the 
document to be given to her, and several times during the 
day caused it to be re-read. Soon after daybreak on the 
following morning the spirit of this Daughter of Newport, 
whose wan right hand still grasped the Re-Union invitation, 
fled to its Maker. 



CHAPTER IV. 

A RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE. 

In looking over the years that have passed since the Re- 
Union of 1859, one sees many changes, changes that indicate 
great prosperity and mark the steady and unitbrm growth of the 
City. Commerce we have little or none, and our manufac- 
tures have nearly or quite died out, but we have not come to 
a stand. The energies of the people have been turned into 
new^ channels, and the many find employment in providing 
for the hundreds and thousands who annually flock to the 
seaside. In 1859 the taxable property of Newport was val- 
ued at $10,484,400 ; to-day it is set down at $27,543,600, and 
the savings banks are oppressed by the amount of their de- 
posits. Sections of the City that were then only field land, 
are now laid out and built over— not wholly for summer resi- 
dences, but with homes in great part tor a well-to-do popula- 
tion : as witness the upper part of Broadway and the streets 
that radiate from that great thoroughfare. 

The eflbrts to make Newport a manufacturing place have 
signally failed. Twenty-five years ago many mill hands here 
found employment, but in i860 the Coddington factory, 
which turned out 50,000 yards of print cloth per week, was 
destroyed bv fire. Then came the destruction of the woolen 
mill by the same element, which had often injured it before. 
The Aciuidneck mill was partially destroyed by fire, but was 
restored and again put in working order. For a time it was 
run after that, but eventually the machinery was taken out 
and there it stands, still unoccupied. The Point factory was 
burnt, the lead works and shot tower have long been idle, and 
the Perry mill, built in 1835, is the only one running. The 
fine building put up on Marlborough street for the Newport 
Manufacturing Co. is now owned by the Newport Water 
Works. But business of other kinds has so improved as to 
make it almost imperative that at no distant day Thames street 



36 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

must either be widened, or a new street, along the water front, 
be provided to accommodate the traffic. 

The changes on Thames street have swept away many old 
landmarks. The old building that stood on the southwest 
corner of the Parade, has given place to a modern building, 
with stores below. The Gould building, rejoicing in a new 
front, is known as the "Beehive." Barlow's new building, 
adjoining it on the south, stands on what was the Faisneau 
estate. Who of the old residents does not recall the little 
French barber, Pascal E. Faisneau? He came to this coun- 
tr}^ as valet to Count Vernon, and having left the employ of 
the Count, here opened a barber's shop. On the walls of his 
little ten by fourteen shop there was a print of the steamboat 
Chancellor Livingston leaving Newport harbor, which always 
filled my eye when, a little shaver, I went there to have my 
hair cut. The Chancellor Livingston made her first trip from 
New York to Providence, March 3d, 1828, in fifteen hours to 
Newport, using a part of her sails. Arrangements were then 
being made to have a daily boat on the line. The Fulton 
came through the following day in twenty hours. 

Where William S. Nichols sold sterling silver ware, now 
stands the Bryer Exchange, and Heath, the jeweler, has a 
modern building where stood the old Colonial one that had 
many owners and tenants. The old Wanton house and the 
Gibbs mansion (now Covell's) have been so altered as to be 
past recognition. The Lopez building has a new front, the 
Gardner building takes the place of one that had long stood 
on the same site, and the Bateman building is avast improve- 
ment on the structure that once stood there. 

There are other improvements on the street that one might 
mention. The street itself has undergone changes. In 1859 
the old pa\'ement, many of the cobble stones being as large 
as buckets, gave place to a new pavement. The old pave- 
ment was supposed to date from 1767, when a fund was raised 
lor this purpose by means of a lottery. The cobble stones 
gave place a few years ago to asphalt blocks. 

T went}' -five years ago we had no railroad facilities. We 



A RETROSPECTIVE GLANXE. 37 

can hardl}' realize this now. There were boats on the river, 
to and from Providence, and a Hne to New York, but between 
Newport and Fall River only a stage coach, if one did not 
wish to get up before day and take the boat that stopped here 
on its way from New York. There was much opposition 
to the road when projected, j-)articularly in Massachusetts. 
But a half-mile of road was required to be built in that State, 
to make the connection, but the right to do this was denied. 
Success at last crowned the efforts of those who were far- 
sighted enough to see how great a benefit it would be. In 
1859 ^^^^ measure was pushed vigorously, two preliminary 
surveys were made, one on the east and the other on the west 
side of the Island, and tVom that time forward the matter was 
not allowed to drop till the end in view had been secured. 

Repeatedly there has been a talk of a horse railroad to run 
through certain of the streets, but tlius far the call has met 
with rebuffs, and it is a question if such a grant can be ob- 
tained in the near future. In the meantime a line of omni- 
buses has been running between the Post Office and a point 
where the main road crosses the Middletown line ; while 
other omnibuses, in summer, run with more or less regularity 
to the Beach and the lower end of Bellevue avenue, starting 
from Washington stjuare, the Depot, and the steamboat land- 
ings. 

All the events of the late war have transpired since the tirst 
Re-Union. Many who are still living will recall the day when 
news of the tirst oxert act reached Newport, the immediate 
call for troops, and the quick response of the Artillery Com- 
pany. All business was suspended, and the ranks of the 
Company were at once more than filled. One hundred men 
were required, and one hundred and fourteen answered to the 
roll call. Then came the signal to depart. Two hundred 
and fifty of the leading citizens headed the line, four abreast. 
After them came seventy retired members of the Company. 
This was the escort. The civic procession was led by May^r 
Cranston, supported by Rev. Drs. Thayer, Jackson and Ad- 
lam, while the streets were lined with citizens. On the wharf, 



38 THE NEWPOl^T RE-UNIOK. 

where a hollow square had been formed, there was an ad- 
dress from the Mayor, and one from Charles C. Van Zandt, 
followed by prayer by Drs. Thayer and Jackson. How many 
of the citizens who were present on that day have passed 
away ! how well the Company behaved, how firm in action, 
how ready to shed their blood in the cause — all this has been 
recorded. The memory of those who fell is still revered, and 
from year to year their graves are visited by their surviving 
comrades. 

During the war Goat Island and Fort Wolcott were used 
by the Navy Department for the Naval Academy, in connec- 
tion with the Atlantic House. When peace was declared and 
there was a talk of sending the Academy back to Annapolis, 
the City offered to give Coaster's Harbor Island to the Gov- 
ernment if it would plant the Academy there ; an offer that 
was declined, for it was thought best that it should occupy its 
old quarters in Maryland. A few years later the Navy De- 
partment established a school on Goat Island, for instruction 
in torpedo practice. To this end work shops, store houses, 
and laboratories were provided, and the island has been dot- 
ted with cottages for the use of tlie instructors. The officer 
in charge has his quarters in what was tiie old barracks of 
Fort Wolcott, which were made into a commodious and 
pleasant residence. A steam launch plies between the City 
and the Station. 

Less than twenty-five years ago the City had no water siq^- 
ply, otlier than wells and cisterns. The call for a better sup- 
ply was a vain one, for no one seemed to know how we could 
get it short of a heavy outlay. At length Mr. George H. 
Norman offered to put down mains and furnish the City with 
water if the City in return would give him a certain franchise. 
The ofier was accepted, the pipes were put down as agreed, 
a reservoir and pumping house were provided, a pordon ot 
Easton's pond was diked to raise its level, and since then the 
City has had the benefit of an uninterrupted supply of water. 
Another basin, deeper if not larger, has been provided by the 
Company at the Hanging Rocks, and from that source we 
shall get a still more abundant supply. 



A UKTROSI'ECTIVE (JLANCE. 39 

With water ad I i hi I ion there should be a full and perfect 
system of sewers ; but this end has }-et to be attained ; in the 
meantime sewers have been put down in various directions, 
and a main outlet, to take the waste of the City across the 
harbor, under Goat Island and out to the Channel, has been 
started. Whoever writes the history of the next Re-Union 
may be able to tell of the completion of this work. 

The Newport Gas Light Company has extended its mains 
from time to time, and now quite out on the confines of the 
Citv, as well as in the more compact part, the streets are 
lighted. The old gasometer, which, when put in was 
thought to be quite large enough to meet the demands upon 
it tor many years to come, has been supplemented by another, 
a new, gasometer, and the enterprising Company have put 
up a fine building on Thames Street, aflbrding ample room 
for its own works, and offices and stores to rent for business 
purposes. Nor are we wholly dependent on the Gas Light 
Company for street lighting, many of the thoroughfares and 
public squares being made brilliant at night by the electric 
light, the use of which for this purpose will probably be 
continued. 

In the Gas Light Company's building is located the office 
of the Telephone Exchange. Newport was quick to a\ail 
itself of the advantages offered by the telephone, and probabl}' 
no place of its size has employed it to a greater extent ; the 
wires of the Company now run in all directions, and a tele- 
phone seems to be as essential to the com tort and convenience 
of a household as a suppl}^ of illuminating gas. A connec- 
tion has also been made with Jamestown. The line crosses 
the Channel at Fort Adams and the Dumplings, and runs 
over the island. What would the inhabitants of Jamestown 
of a generation ago have said to this? In their day there 
was, at times, a faint agitation of a more speedy and reliable 
means of communication with this City than was afforded by 
the old open ferry boats, and there was even a talk of cutting 
a canal across the island, with a steamboat to run between 
Narragansett and Newport, via this cut, but no one seemed 



40 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

sanguine that anything would come of it. We have now, 
however, a reguhir steam" communication between Newport 
and Conanicut, stopping as occasion requires at Fort Adams. 
This has been alike advantageous to the two places. For 
Jamestown it has done a great deal; streets have been laid 
out, hotels and cottages have been' built, and what was a 
lonely place has become a growing and thriving community. 
At the ferr}' there is quite a village, on the west side there is 
the nucleus of another village, and at the north end of the 
island there is a more ambitious movement ; a settlement 
having been Ibrmed there, known as Conanicut Park, with 
its hotel, cottages, landing place for steamboats, pleasant 
drives and bathing ground. It is now a popular place of 
resort, and many facilities are aflbrded one to reach it. 

Another new steamboat connection is that between New- 
port and Wickford, the advantages of which were so apparent 
that the City was induced to take stock in it to the amount of 
$50,000. This, with the building of the Wickford Railroad, 
it all being one thing, opened a direct communication by rail 
with New York, and it is now the mail route between the 
two cities. 

Other new steamboat C(3nnections are a line between New- 
port and Narragansett Pier, exclusively for summer travel, 
and one to Block Island. 

Great changes have been made in hotel accommodation in 
these years. The Bellevue, Fillmore and Atlantic Houses 
have all been swept away, but the Aquidneck has been en- 
larged and greatly impro\ed, and the Ocean House, always 
a favorite with the travelling public, has more than held its 
own. Then there is the Perry House, a modern hotel, on 
Wasiiington Square, and the United States, that goes back 
to an earlier period. Bits of the Fillmore and the Bellevue 
are to be seen in the Ibrm of boarding houses on Catharine 
and I^rinley Streets, but all traces of the Atlantic have dis- 
appeared. The latter had a number of proprietors, none of 
whom were successful ; at last it stood empty, wanting a 
tenant, until the Naval Academy was sent here during the 



H 

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00 

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a 

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A RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE. 4I 

war and there for a time found a resting place. When the 
Government gave it up it again stood empty, till at last it was 
decided to take it down and turn the site to a better use. 
Where the house stood there now stands a beautiful villa, 
"Park Gate,'* the summer residence of Seth B. Stitt, Esq., 
of Philadelphia. Just below it, on Pelham Street, where the 
Derby Cottage stood, there has been erected a beautiful and 
substantial edifice, built of stone up to the top of the spire, a 
memorial of Rev. William Ellerv Channinof, D. D., whose 
name will always be revered and cherished. The old church 
on Mill Street, that was long occupied by the Unitarian 
Society, and which has a history that antidates the Revolu- 
tion, has been sold, but is still standing on the old site. It 
was in this church that Dr. Hopkins began his ministry in 
Newport, in 1755, and here he fulminated those strong argu- 
ments against slavery, at a time when catching slaves was 
thought to be a worthy calling. 

One other hotel, that of the Cliff Cottage Association, 
should be mentioned, for it has been built, with its neighbor- 
ing cottages, within the period of which I am writing. 

One of the venerable institutions to which Newport clings, 
is the Redwood Library. Only the year before the hrst Re- 
Union it had been greatly enlarged and improved, and this 
change was to have been marked by s(Mne formal ceremony 
at the time of the Re-Union ; but the illness of the President, 
the late George G. King, to whom the duty of preparing the 
address was assigned, prevented. It was thought tliat many 
years would elapse before additional space would be required 
for books, but in 1875 i^ ^''^^ deemed expedient to add mate- 
rially to the structure, to accommodate the greatly increased 
number of volumes. In 1859 ^'""^ library contained 9000 vol- 
umes, to-day it has more than 26,000 volumes. The friends 
of the library have been many and liberal during these twenty- 
five years. It is fairly off for means to keep up with a mod- 
erate demand for new books, and an effort is now being made 
to raise a permanent fund for its current expenses. It was 
about the time of the first Re-Union that the late Benjamin H. 



42 THE NEWPORT RE-tJNiON. 

Rhoades was appointed librarian. The selection was a happy 
one and during the years that he held the office for which he 
was so admirably fitted, he was a most efficient, pains-taking 
and devoted custodian of the property placed in his keeping. 

One cannot but take pleasure in speaking of the People's 
Librar}', and of its founder and liberal benefactor, the late 
Christopher Townsend, a man who lived to do good and im- 
prove the condition of his fellows. Of his abundance he gave 
liberally in his life time. He not only gave the greater part 
of the books in this library, but within the time of w^hich I am 
writing he provided the means for its support after he was 
gone, and that it might be self sustaining. The collection 
now numbers about 25,000 volumes, and every respectable 
person may have the benefit of the library, without cost or 
charge. 

Newport has always looked carefully after the education of 
her children, and in these later years, as in the past, it has 
taxed itself heavily to give them good schooling. The more 
important of the school houses that have been built within 
the past twenty-five years, are the Point school house and the 
Potter school house, the Mill Street, the Cranston Avenue, 
and the Rogers High School. The foundation of this school, 
which is located in a beautiful structure on Church Street, 
was the gift of William Sanford Rogers, who, dying, made a 
liberal bequest for the education of the youths of Newport in 
the higher branches. The building is a becoming memorial 
of this good man, and the work being done there is a credit to 
those who have it in charge. 

St. Mark's Catholic Society has also a very fine school 
house built of granite but a few years ago and in the rear of 
and adjoining the Church grounds. 

At the time of the first Re-Union many persons availed 
themselves of the opportunity to visit the Jewish Synagogue, 
which was then, as it had been for some years before, only 
opened in compliance with the wish of visitors to inspect the 
interior of this venerable edifice ; but it is now pleasant to 
know that the Jewish service is regularly held there on 



A RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE. 43 

Fridays and Saturdays by a resident Rabbi, Rev. A. P. 
Mendes, wbo has made Newport his place of abode. 

The Historical Society has of late become the owner of the 
old Seventh Day Baptist Church, on Barney Street, and has 
fitted it up for the use of the Society. The movement was 
timely, for the venerable building, erected in 1729, was fast 
falling to decay, and soon it would have been past restoring. 
As it is, the leading features of the interior have been pre- 
served — the picturesque pulpit and sounding board, the tablets 
on the wall, the gallery, and the fine old clock, the work of 
Clagget — these have all been retained and will be kept from 
further harm. Before anvthino' was done to the buildinif 
careful measurements and drawings of every part of the 
interior were made by an architect, which drawings have 
been given to the Historical Society and will have a place 
on the walls. Here for the future the Society will hold its 
meetings. 

Strong and marked is the contrast between the Fire Depart- 
ment of to-day and of rive and twenty years ago. It took 
time to overcome the prejudice against steam fire engines, and 
to the last there were those who held to the hand engines 
and the old leather buckets which had been the pride and care 
of our ancestors. But a more enlightened spirit prevailed, and 
now^ we may well be proud of our properly organized and 
well-equipped department. The display of steamers, hose- 
carts and trucks in the procession at the late Re-Union was 
every way creditable. 

For generations Coaster's Harbor Island was identified with 
the poor of Newport, for on that pleasing Island was located 
the Asvlum. But the time came, but a few vears ati^o, when 
it was thought that it would be well to give it to the Govern- 
ment for a naval training school, and when the matter was 
brought to the attention of the voters it was so decided. Hav- 
ing parted with the Island for a nominal consideration, the City 
leased an estate on Broadway with the right to purchase it at 
a given price, fitted it up for the use of the Asylum, and there 
the Cit}"s poor are now cared for. 



44 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



On Bellevue Avenue what changes have been made during 
these twent^'-tive years ; what a contrast it presents to those 
who knew it less than a generation ago I Whole blocks of 
buildings have been erected, chiefl}' for business purposes, and 
in the midst of, and surrounded by, stores filled with all that 
can attract the e}-e and gratify the taste, there stands the 
Casino, ^^■ith its graceful outline, its spacious courts, its foun- 
tains, its light and airy galleries and its crowds of pleasure 
seekers — a busy, moving scene that never lacks for interest 
or numbers, day or evening, during the season. There is ten- 
nis on the lawn, music and a promenade in the corridors, and 
at night dancing, or some special attraction in the little theatre 
that makes a part of this delighttul place. 

And what changes have been made in other parts of the 
Avenue and the streets that cross it I Narragansett Avenue 
has been almost built up in that time. " Oaklawn " was there, 
and so were Miss Gre}'s cottage and Miss Callender's house, 
then owned by Edward Ogden, but all the others date trom 
a period short of the first Re-Union. On Ochre Point the 
Lawrence house stood alone, as it had done for many years, 
and along the Clift' there was only here and there a cottage. 
The places now so beautiful do not go back to the days of the 
Re-Union — " Seaview, " " Bythesea, " " Snug Harbor," and 
the greater number of other well-known bits of fairy land, have 
come into existence as by the touch of some conjurer's wand 
— a marvel of green sward, beds of glowing colors, and the 
foliage of deciduous trees with palms and other exotics. What- 
ever is beautiful in trees and plants that wealth can command 
has within a score or so of years been brought here and 
planted with a lavish hand. And then there is the lo\ely 
drive on Ocean Avenue, a continuation of Bellevue Avenue, 
over one of the most picturesque parts of the Island, among 
rocky hills, along pebbly beaches and grassy slopes, every- 
where in sight of the ocean and revealing at every turn some 
new and interesting feaftn-e. Cottages are already springing 
up along this line, and the day is probably not distant when 
every available site will be taken up, 



A RETROSI'KCTIVK CLANCIC. 45 

On Touro Park, raised upon an appropriate pedestal, there 
stands a bronze statue, of heroic size, of Commodore M. C. 
Perry, erected within the period of which I am writing. 
Around the granite pedestal there is a belt of bronze casting 
in hitdi relief, divided into three sections, commemorative of 
leading events in the life of Commodore Perr}-. They are 
very spirited and the statue itself is life like and an admirable 
likeness. It was a gift to the Cit}- from Mr. and Mrs. x^ugust 
Belmont, Mrs. Belmont being a daughter of Commodore 
Perry. 

At the next anniversary of the Batde of Lake Erie, a fine 
bronze statue, also of heroic size, of Commodore Oliver H. 
Perry, will be unveiled with imposing ceremony. The statue, 
the work of a Newport sculptor, Mr. William G. Turner, 
is now being cast in Florence, and when completed will 
probably be placed on Washington Square, opposite what was 
once the Perry mansion. 

Of the prominent men of New port who were at the first Re- 
Union many have gone to their resting place. There was 
Rev. Charles T. Brooks : when he died a people mourned. 
Of the older physicians we have lost a number — Dr. David 
King, who was so earnest in his support of the Redwood 
Library and the Historical Society : Doctors Watson, Turner 
and Butler, and the genial Dr. Dunn. Gov. Gibbs helped to 
make the Re-Union a success : every one knows that, but it is 
not irenerallv known how he was fu'st brought into notice. 
One of the coldest days in January, 1817, he was on his way 
to Providence, on board the packet Maria, Captain Gardner, 
when a boy belonging to the vessel, named Thurston Butts, 
fell from the bowsprit, the shjop sailing at tlie time at the rate 
of eight knots. The boy could not swim : young Gibbs saw 
it, and in a moment jumped for him and kept him up till both 
were rescued in an exhausted state. Of the jMinlers who have 
gone in this time there was James Atkinson, of the Herald of 
the Times, and then of the Advertiser, and his son Oliver, 
who had become his successor; Frederick A. Pratt, ot the 
Mercurv, and William H. Cranston, a former editor of the 



46 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

Daily News, and Mayor of the City at the time of the Re- 
Union. Older than all of these was Oliver Farnsvvorth, who 
was born at Woodstock, V^t., came to Newport in 1799, 
started two small sheets, one after the other, and these were 
followed by The Guardian of Liberty, 1800, which he con- 
tinued to print but a short time. William Simons, who began 
the publication of the Rhode Island Republican in 1805, prob- 
ably bought the press of Farnsworth, who that year returned 
to Woodstock. From there he removed to Cincinnati, where 
he established the th-st printing oflice in that cit\'. Restless 
and inclined to roving, he came again to Newport, in 1857, 
and died the year of the Re-Union, at the age of 84 years. 
Of distinguished jurists we have lost J. Prescott Hall and Wm. 
Beach Lawrence : of prominent men at the bar, George Tur- 
ner and Henry Y. Cranston, and I have only to mention 
Robert B. Cranston, David J. Gould, William C. Cozzens, 
George G. King, Robert J. Taylor and Duncan C. Pell, to 
bring them and others equally prominent to mind. This gen- 
eration must pass before we can lose sight of such worth as 
was seen in Benjamin B. Howland (who faithfully served as 
City Clerk for more than fifty years), Adam S. Coe, Timothy 
Coggeshall, Peleg Clarke and John T. Bush. Ceorge G. 
King was President of the Redwood Library at the time of 
the first Re-Union, and of the eleven directors at that time 
but three are now living — William P. Shefiield, Henry E. 
Turner and George C. Mason. Dr. Turner is now the Pres- 
ident of the institution, and Messrs. Sheffield and Mason are 
still members of the Board. 



CHAPTER V. 



PREPARING FOR THE DAY. 



The work went bravely on, but it was not until the twenty- 
third day of May that the question, as to whether there was 
to be a re-union or not, was definitely setded, for it was upon 
that evening a motion was made in committee to the etTect 
that, all things considered, it was inexpedient to proceed with 
the undertaking. To say that the introduction of the modon 
caused some surprise, is to record the circumstance in lan- 
guage that does not properly describe it. The Newport 
Daily News in its report, the following day, of the proceed- 
ings, informed its readers that the meeting was of "a rather 
exciting " character. Perhaps this, too, does somewhat of an 
injustice to the doings of that evening, and it is suggested 
that if the reader of this work will strike a happy medium 
between a condition of things best illustrated by the verb 
" surprise,'* and one to which the word " exciting" would do 
justice, he will not be far from realizing the true state of 
aflairs on the occasion in question. The chief argument used 
by those who desired a postponement of the proposed celebra- 
tion, was, that the citizens of Newport were not sufficiently 
aroused in the matter, in fact, that the feeling throughout the 
community was one of almost entire apathy. It was further 
urged, and at very considerable length, that the time for 
preparation was so limited, it would be impossible to do full 
justice to the enterprise. Moreover it was stated diat the 
amount of money required being so very large, the Commit- 
tee would be incurring a great risk if they proceeded without 
reasonable assurance that it could be raised. Had the mo- 
tion been put before the suggestion was made for a recess, 
which was had, it is more than likely that the Re-Union 
would never have been brought about, or, at all events, it 



48 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

would not ha\-e been on such a large scale. But, during the 
recess, se\eral hundred dollars were raised among the mem- 
bers of the Committee, and, when the meeting was once 
more in order, this fact was not without its effect. Still the 
discussion was continued, the Chairman urging that with the 
improved means of travel there was every opportunity for 
those who were disposed to attend the Re-Union to be com- 
municated with, and then an abundance of time remained tor 
them to make preparations for their respective journeys. 
The Secretary, too, declared it to be his unqualified opinion, 
" that," to quote the local daily paper, " all the tunds would 
be raised, tliat all the bills would be paid promptly, and dol- 
lar for dollar honestly met." That the suggestion of the 
Chairman was well founded must have been plainly manifest 
to every person who chanced to be in this City on the last 
anniversary of the Declaration of Independence ; the fact that 
not a single dollar is owing on account of Newport's s'econd 
Re-Union, shows conclusively that the Secretary was right 
in his estimate of the loyalty of the people to respond when 
called upon to support, with their means, so laudable an ob- 
ject. 

At last the discussion came to an end : it had continued be- 
tween one and two hours, and those who were most anx- 
ious for the success of the Re-Union awaited the result with 
considerable solicitude. The motion was put, the yeas and 
nays were called for, and it was found that the latter pre- 
vailed. The suggestion f )r a postponement was not agreed to, 
and the wa}- was open tor preparing for the great event with- 
out further interruption. But, as has been previously stated, 
the effect of the discussion was a good one, tor it brought the 
vast majority of the Committee far closer together on the sub- 
ject than they ever had been before, and compelled them, if 
only for the credit of the City, to labor more industriously for 
the desired end. 

Immediately after the settlement of the much discussed 
question, " to be, or not to be," the Committee of Arrange- 
ments made a very elaborate report of what they recommended 



PREPARIN(i FOR THE DAY 



49 



should be done on the Fourth of July, and in order to show 
that the general committee believed that tiiis sub-committee 
had exercised sound judgment and discretion in their conclu- 
sions, it is only necessary to say that every important suggestion 
made by them was unanimoush' approved by the larger bodv, 
and this, notwithstanding the tact that the adoption of the 
report carried with it appropriations amounting to thousands of 
dollars. The report stated that the Committee were "of the 
opinion that a portion of the programme will be made doubly 
successful if some torpedoes could be exploded and the harbor 
lighted with the electric light by the otlicials at the Torpedo 
Station." It is pleasant to be able to state that this suggestion 
met with a very ready and cordial response from Captain 
Thomas O. Selfridge, of the United States Navy, then com- 
manding the Torpedo Station, who not only in the manner 
indicated, but in other directions assisted those having charge 
of the proposed festival in making it the success which it 
unmistakably was. 

It is wholly unnecessary in a work such as this is in- 
tended to be, to make more than a passing reference to the 
various labors of the Committee, for a recital of the difficul- 
ties encountered, the delays met with, and the disappointments 
experienced woidd prove tedious, if not absolutely uninter- 
esting. 

The question of finance, however, was one which, tor several 
weeks, disturbed the Committee far more than an^• other 
subject that was brought before them. Under the provisions 
of the public statutes the City of Newport is not authorized to 
expend more than two thousand dollars for public celebra- 
tions during any one year. Of this amount some two hundred 
dollars had been voted by the City Council betbre the propo- 
sition to have a re-union took anv definite shape, and, there- 
fore, all that the people's representatives in the municipality 
could appropriate for that purpose was eighteen hundred 
dollars. The first estimate of the money required to carry on 
the celebration was four thousand dollars ; later on the Com- 
mittee became impressed with the conviction that five thou- 



50 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

sand dollars would be necessary, and finally it was believed 
that tour thousand dollars, over and above the City's appro- 
priation would not be too much. This latter calculation proved 
to be well founded. 

But how was this large amount to be raised? That was a 
problem that appeared to the Finance Committee to be 
difficult of solution. It was suggested that, as the Legislature 
was about to hold its spring session here, as usual, an appeal 
might very properly be made to that body to pass a law 
authorizing the City Council, of this City, to make an addi- 
tional appropriation for the special occasion of the Re-Union. 
A petition, pra3ing the Legislature to do this, was very 
numerously signed, but at the same time there was decided 
opposition to the proposition. Not a few of the careful, con- 
servative citizens of Newport held that to change the law tor 
any such purpose would be to establish a precedent which 
might, in the future, prove dangerous to the public weal. 
The adverse judgment of some of these citizens on this sub- 
ject did not, when it reached the Legislature, take that form 
which could best be met by the promoters of the scheme, and 
the result was that their method of indirection proved far 
more difficult to overcome than open opposition. 

The Legislature tinally met, and at one of its earliest ses- 
sions the petition was presented, and referred, alter some de- 
mur, to the Committee on the Judiciary. It did not take 
much time to discover that those who were most earnest in the 
desire to secure a larger appropriation from the City, had 
adopted the wrong means to bring it about, lor the law pro- 
vides that towns and cities shall be tbrmally notified of any 
petitions presented to the Legislature afiecting their interests, 
in order that, if deemed expedient, objection may be made 
by the proper authorities. It is scarcely necessary to say that 
the special committee having the matter in charge quickly 
perceived the error into which they had tallen, and at once 
asked for, and obtained permission to withdraw the petition. 
Then an act was drafted, which so amended the chapter af- 
fected that the City Council of the City of Newport was 



PREPARING FOR THP: DAY. 5I 

authorized to expend for the observance of the anniversary of 
the Dechiration of Independence occurring during the present 
year, the sum of three tliousand dollars. The passage of 
this authorization of an additional appropriation, brought 
much satisfaction to the Committee at large, and jiarticularly 
to the Finance Committee, who now began to discern a silver 
lining in the heavy clouds which had threateningly hovered 
over them. 

During the progress of the preparations for the event in 
which increased interest was being aroused, several attempts 
w^ere made to obtain the assistance of the ladies in directing 
the course of proceedings. These eflbrts were unsuccessful, 
not because the feminine portion of the community were in- 
different to the result, for the contrary was the case, but for 
the reason that it was thought they coidd do more beneficial 
service to the Committee in privately urging relatives and 
friends to return to their former home for the happy occasion, 
and then in making preparations for the reception of their vis- 
itors. In this, there can be no doubt, the ladies were right, 
and the result of their labors in the direction indicated proved 
the fact very conclusively. 

Meanwhile the Sons and Daughters, for whose reception 
and entertainment such elaborate arrangements were in prog- 
ress, were bestirring themselves in the various localities to 
which they belonged. From far and near came cheering 
news of how much interest was felt by the absent ones, and 
how they were extending the cordial invitation to those 
" whose names had not occurred to the Committee." In the 
four great centres — Providence, New York, New Bedlbrd, 
and Boston — formal gatherings were had by the Sons and 
Daughters of Newport, who reside in those cities, and organ- 
izations were perfected. 

At Providence there was a very large and enthusiastic 
meeting, an account of the proceedings of which is given in the 
following notice taken from the Providence Daily Journal : — 

■' The forthcoming Re-Union of the Sons ;uk1 Daui^hters of tlie 
summer capital of Little Rhody, on July 4th. promises to be a 



52 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

memorable occasion, and it is anticipated tliat there will he a general 
response to the invitation to participate in the festivities of the occa- 
sion, from representatives in all parts of the conntry. In Providence 
and vicinity it has been estimated that thei^e are between three 
hundred and four hundred Sons and Daughters, and w ith a \\c\v to 
making preliminary arrangements for a representation at the anni- 
versary, a meeting was held in Burrows's hall. High Street, last 
evening, antl was attended by nearly one hundred and thirty ladies 
and gentlemen, who evinced a lively interest in the proceedings. 

The meeting was called to order b}' Air. Da^ id II. Weeden, and 
Mr. Freeborn Coggeshall was chosen Chairman, and David H. 
Weeden, Secretary. The Chairman stated the object of the meeting, 
and a committee consisting of Messrs. R. M. Sherman, George A. 
Freeborn, John S. Palmer, George Edward Allen, John S. Cottrell, 
and Mrs. Thomas Mumford and Mrs. John S. Palmer, to secure the 
names of those desirous of attending the Re-Union. The names of 
those in the hall were readily obtained, and it was estimated that up- 
ward of 200 would doubtless be secured. Some discussion was then 
had relative to the adoption of an appropriate badge, and it was yoted 
to wear a white silk badge with gilt lettering, *■ Providence Re- 
Union at Newport — July 4th, 1SS4. ' A committee, consisting of 
Messrs. David H. Weeden and George Edward Allen, was selected 
to procure the badges at a cost not to exceed twenty-five cents each. 
Mr. Allen gave notice that thev could be obtained at his office. No. 
33 Exchange Place, on and after ]u\\e 25th. Col. Theodore A. 
Barton was unanimously chosen marshal of the Providence organiza- 
tion. It being suggested that it was intended to call upon a repre- 
sentative from Providence to respond at the Re-Union exercises, it 
was voted that Messrs. William PI. Henderson, Richard M. Sher- 
man and Freeborn Coggeshall be authorized to engage a respondent 
for the Providence delegation. The name of Judge Randolph was 
suggested by one or two gentlemen, but no action was taken. It was 
voted to hold another meeting, at the same place, on the evening of 
the 24th inst., at the same hour, to listen to the report of the com- 
mittees. " 

On the i8th day of June a number of Newporters met at 
Yoimg's hotel, in Boston, to consider the question of their pro- 
posed participation in the festivities incident to the Fourth of 
July. Rev. Solon Bush was elected Chairman, and Mr. S. S. 
Ward was assigned to the Secretaryship of the meeting. An 



PREPARING FOR THE DAY. 53 

executive committee, consisting of Messrs. Hazard Stevens, 
W. C. Langley. Jr., Howard M. Barker, R. P. Boss, 
Joshua Hammond, S. S. Ward, and Thomas Downing, was 
appointed to make all necessary arrangements which were to 
include the procurement of suitable badges, a band, etc. At a 
subsequent meeting it was decided that Rev. Solon Bush 
should respond tor the Boston delegation, and that he should 
be followed by Mrs. Clara P. Boss, who had otlered to con- 
tribute a poem for the occasion. 

New York provides homes for a large number of the Sons 
and Daughters of Newport, and they, too, entered most en- 
thusiastically into the idea of sw^elling the hosts that were to 
attend the Re-Union. Soon after the Newport authorities 
decided upon the project, the New Yorkers appointed a com- 
mittee of lifteen — Messrs. William G. Peckham, Chairman; 
John C. Haddock, Treasurer; A. M. Chace, Corresponding 
Secretary ; Herbert D. Hammett, Recording Secretary : Phil- 
ander Shaw, Chairman of the Reception Committee ; Edward 
W. Gould, Francis Lawton, Jr., George T. Finch, William T. 
Bull, Peleg B. Spooner, Arthur Dudley Vinton, Joseph B. 
Tompkins, Walter Nichols, Edmond White, and Edward 
Van Zandt — to arrange for the visit to this Cit}'. From 
among these gentlemen, a sub-committee was appointed for 
the purpose of perfecting plans for a reception of the friends 
of the New York delegation, and which w^as to be held at 
the State House on the evening of the great day. The loval 
Sons and Daughters in New York sent not only words of 
encouragement to the Newport Committee, but offers of 
monetary assistance. It is scarcely necessarv to say that 
the former were gratefully accepted, but the latter were re- 
spectfully declined. The New Yorkers decided that Mr. 
Philander Shaw, Mr. William G. Peckham, and Mr. Francis 
Lawton should be the orators for their delegation. 

Much interest in the matter was felt in New Bedford, where 
an organization was early formed with Mr. Thomas Cogges- 
hall as Chairman, and Mr. Robert C. Topham as Secretary. 
Systematic efforts were made to bring a large delegation, 



54 THE NEWPORT RE-UNlON. 

every Newporter in New Bedford being notified by the local 
committee as well as by the Correspondence Committee. 
. The result was very satisfactory to all concerned. Mr. Ben- 
jamin Pitman, a venerable member of the delegation, was ap- 
pointed to respond for his colleagues, and the selection proved 
to be a most happy one. 

In the meantime the members of the General Committee 
did not relax their efforts in the direction of making a success 
of the Re-Union. More than twenty meetings of this Com- 
mittee were held, and trom the important business transacted 
at each it did not appear as if even one of them could have 
been dispensed with. The sub-committees, too, were compelled 
to meet with equal frequency, and it is not surprising to find, 
therefore, that the total number of the sessions of the various 
managers of the affair far exceeded one hundred. 

In order to increase the interest in the proposed festival, 
and to obtain a result that should be worthy of the occasion , 
it was deemed advisable to invite the co-operation of the 
various organizations and societies in town, and it is most 
agreeable to be able to record the fact that there was not one 
of them but what manifested, directly or indirectlv, a pleasant 
concern in the Re-Union, and lent generous aid either in com- 
mittee or on the festal day. If ever there was an occasion 
when the entire truth of the saying, 'A great many can help 
one, but one cannot help a great many,' was apparent, the Re- 
Union was one, for the influence for good which the delegates 
from the several organizations brought manifested itself from 
the very first meeting they attended until the aflair was at an 
end. 

During the preparations for the great event there was one 
matter which, lor some time, gave the Committee consider- 
able concern, and that was the difiiculty in securing a lot suit- 
able tor the erection of the mammoth tent in wliich the chief 
exercises were to be held. While this matter was in the 
hands of the Committee of the whole the obstacles appeared 
almost insurmountable, but directly it was passed over to one 
of their number — Ex-Mayor Swinburne — to deal with as his 



PREI'AKINO FOR THE DAY. 55 

judgment dictated, all difficulty appeared to vanish, and a spot 
was secured which, for its natural attractions, and the gen- 
eral convenience it afforded, could not be surpassed in its ap- 
propriateness for use on such an occasion. The selection ot 
Mr Swinburne to represent the Committee in this particular 
was a wise one ; the choice by that gentleman of the Izard lot, 
where were to be dealt out the food for tiie body and lofty 
thought for the mind in such generous quantities, was an 
equally satisfactory proceeding. 

As time went by the responsibilities of the Committee were 
rendered less heavy by the conspicuous generosity of several 
wealthv citizens and summer residents of Newport. There 
are occasions when the selection of names in such a connec- 
tion would be invidious, but this is not believed to be one, for 
the eminent liberality of Mr. George Peabody Wetmore, Mr. 
George H. Norman, Mrs. M. A. King, and other native New- 
porters, and also of Mr. James Gordon Bennett, Mr. W. G. 
Weld, Mr. J. N. A. Griswold, and t)thers, who have their sum- 
mer homes here, can evoke nothing but admiration from the 
people at large, even as it did, together with a feeling of deep 
gratitude, from the committee having charge of the arrange- 
ments. As the financial responsibility began to be lessened, 
the weight of the other burdens also grew lighter, and 
from about the middle of June there appeared to be nothing 
but pretty plain sailing. There was, however, one other mat- 
ter which, for a time, was a source of much anxiety to the 
Committee, and that was the position in which the Fire De- 
partment found itself. No more loyal or patriotic set of men 
can be found in Newport than those who comprise the roll of 
membership of Newport's Fire Department. From the mo- 
ment when active preparations for the Re-Union celebration 
were commenced, these citizens manifested an earnest desire 
to assist in bringing about a success by taking part in the pro- 
cession and rendering aid in other directions. At one time, 
however, it was doubtful whetiier they would be able to ap- 
pear on the great day, as it was thought by many that it 
would be improper to put the City to the expense of the large 



56 THE NEWPORT RE-U.*JION. 

number of horses necessary for the Department's vehicles. 
Here was a dilemma to be sure, but, fortunately, and thanks 
once more to the energy of the Chairman, and the kindness of 
several citizens, it was overcome, for, when the matter was 
brought to the attention of Captain Waters, he had no diffi- 
culty in securing from the Newport Ice Company, Messrs. 
Swinburne, Peckham & Co., Mr. James B. Finch, Messrs. 
Perry Brothers, Mr. Frank Morgan, Mr. Charles S. Murray, 
and Messrs. G. B. Reynolds & Co., all the equine quadrupeds 
necessar}' tor the Department. And thus was secured to the 
Re-Union procession what proved to be one of its most attrac- 
tive features. 

Not by any means the least important sub-committee, was 
that which was appointed to arrange all the details incident to 
feeding the thousands of guests. Indeed, it is an open 
question as to whether it ma}' not be considered to have been 
the Committee upon whose doings more anxious eyes were 
turned than any other, for, however grand might have been 
the procession, however glorious the weather, and however 
high the order of the after-dinner oratory, the whole would 
have been sadly clouded had the efforts of the Collation Com- 
mittee to please been unsuccessful. For reasons which were 
deemed satisfactor}- to themselves, the original committee 
tendered their resignations, and a new Committee, consisting 
of General Burdick, Alderman Kaull, and Mr. Lewis Brown, 
assumed charge of the matter. To provide a meal for three 
thousand persons and give satisfaction was no small under- 
taking, but there can be no question but what these three 
gentlemen performed their duties most successfully. Their 
selection of Mr. George Washington as the caterer for the 
immense concourse of people was a wise one, and gave en- 
tire satisfaction. There were other sub-committees who did 
the work assigned them laithfully and well. These included 
the Committee on Carriages, Messrs. A. L. Burdick and G. 
P. Lawton ; the Police Committee, Messrs. W. O. Greene, 
T. Burlingham, and L. Brown; the Reception Committee; 
the Committee on Badges, of which Col. Landers was Chair- 



PREPARING FOR THE DAY. 



57 



man ; a Committee on Athletic Sports, comprising- Alderman 
Cottrell, General Burdick, and Mr. John Gilpin ; and others. 
The chief end and aim oi each member of the Committee 
appeared to be to make the Re-Union a success, and how 
nearly the\- attained their desire the public are well able to 
judge. 




tup: CODDINGTOX HOUSE. 



CHAPTER VI. 



JUST BEFORE THE FOURTH. 

The time had now arrived when the labors of the Commit- 
tee were light, as compared with those they had performed 
during the preceding weeks of worry and excitement. It is 
scarcely necessary to say that every member of the Commit- 
tee realized the near approach of the day for the Re-Union 
with thankt"ulness. But this feeling was not accompanied 
by perfect equanimity ; for, while it was a source of much 
satisfaction to know that the labors in this connection were 
soon to come to an end, the anxiety for the general success 
of the celebration increased as the occasion drew near. One 
source of solicitude was, ot course, a fear lest the elements 
might prove unfavorable. Over this matter the Committee 
had no control, but the knowledoe of that fact brou<rht but 
little relief to their anxious minds. Some anxiety was caused, 
too, by the non-arrival of the consent of General Hancock, 
commanding the Division of the East, for the troops stationed 
at Fort Adams to participate in the parade. A Newport pro- 
cession, on a public occasion, without the presence of the 
Fort troops, is not generally regarded as an entire success, 
and that was the reason why such an earnest desire had been 
expressed that the military representatives of Uncle Sam 
should take part, especially as Commodore Luce had ac- 
cepted an invitation on behalf of the naval branch of the ser- 
vice as represented in this neighborhood. It was not until 
the first day of July that it became definitely known that the 
Fort troops woidd occupy positions in the line. The Com- 
mittee were very much gratified b}- General Hancock's ac- 
tion, for it gave to the procession an additional marked fea- 
ture. 

The week during which the Re-Union was to be held had 
arrived. The citizens generally had become thoroughly 



JUST BEFORE THE FOl'RTII. 59 

aroused ; the housewives, i)aiticuhu-l\-, were interested and 
busily engaged making preparations for the reeeption ot 
guests from abroad. Many of those Sons and Daughters 
who were compelled to travel long distances in order to reach 
the home of their childhood, arrived before the Fourth, the 
first to put in appearance being from Texas, while the next 
to arrive were two ladies from Chicago. This was about one 
week previous to the anniversary of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence. From that time on, not a train or steamboat ar- 
rived but what brought a greater or lesser number of the ab- 
sent ones, and tor two or three days previous to the Re-Union 
day thev came in large numbers. There was no mistaking 
this fact, for one could not turn in any direction without ob- 
serving scores of strange faces. Then, too, the frequent 
hand-shakings, and the little knots of visitors and citizens, 
which were "to be observed in every part of the town, all 
tended to convince the least interested person that something 
unusual was going on, and that the citizens proper were not 
the only individuals concerned in it. 

There is no gainsaying the fact that it was a great week — a 
week the sweet and tender memories of which will give pleasure 
to all who were interested, so long as life and reason last. 
Scarcely anything else was spoken of, or thought of, than the 
Re-Union. Word was received from far and near that the 
approaching celebration was to be attended by hosts of New- 
port's absent children : but, emphadc as were the messages, 
no one looked for such an influx as the day brought. Wan- 
derers came not only from every part of their native land, but 
also from several foreign countries, in which, for years, they 
had made their homes. By these latter, especially, was mani- 
fested the greatest delight upon returning to their native shore 
and heath. The years that had passed since departing from 
the scenes of their childhood had not interfered with their 
love of home, but the feeling expressed in the lines 

Home-sickness is a w.-istin^;- pang: 
This feel I hourly more and more, 

had been the experience many a time and oft, and they evi- 



6o THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

dently were of the opinion that '' one can never become a 
stranger to one's Fatherland." 

These returning ones accustomed as they were, in the ma- 
jority of instances, to witnessing rapid improvements around 
the spots to which they had bent their steps for home and 
fortune, conld not fail to observe the vast changes for the better 
which had been wrouglit in and about their " dear old New- 
port." Not a few came back for the tirst time since Newport had 
become a city — a change in her form of municipal government 
that had been made for more than thirty years ; two, cer- 
tainly, had not visited their native heath since, as young and 
hopeful man and wife, they had gone forth to the then far, 
far West, little dreaming that their golden wedding would be 
celebrated ere they returned, septuagenarians, to greet the 
few remaining friends of their childhood and youth ; scores — 
nay, hundreds — who, since their departure from " home," 
had taken a husband or wife, as the case might be, came 
bringing their offspring who were to look for the first time upon 
the birthplace of one of their parents. And all Ibund a cordial 
welcome. 

The Committee had, in the meantime, been making ar- 
rangements tor the tbrmal reception and recognition of 
these returning Sons and Daughters. There was no one 
place where the work of registration could be successfully 
performed, and therefore, it was determined to arrange 
to have a headquarters for each of the delegations from 
the four great centres, namely, New York, New Bed- 
ford, Providence, and Boston. From Mr. Pienjamin Easton, 
Jr., the High Sheriff of the County, the Committee ob- 
tained the Representatives' Chamber in the State House, tor 
the use of the New York delegation; through the kindness 
of the trustees of Rhode Island Lodge, No. 12, I. O. O. F., 
the Newporters from New Bedford were enabled to gatlier 
in the pleasant hall of that organization ; the authorities of 
Charles E. Lawton Post, No. 5, G. A. R., placed, at the 
disposal of the Committee, their charming headquarters in Mr. 
H. E. Read's building, for the Boston delegation ; the offi- 



JUST BEFORE THE FOURTH. 6l 

cers of the First Methodist Episcopal Church most kindl\- 
gave assent to the suo-gestion that their vestr}- should be used 
for the Providence delegates, and the Citv and Probate Clerks, 
Messrs. W. G. Stevens and A. N. Barker, respectively, gave 
the use of their otlices for the registration of such persons as 
came from places other than the tour cities named. 

The Re-Union Committee had placed in the hands of their 
Secretary the entire charge of the work of registration, and 
empowered him to select such assistants as he might deem 
advisable. Jt is needless to say that the undertaking was 
laborious as well as tedious. To assist him in the work the 
Secretar\- invited Messrs. Edward Newton, William J. Coz- 
zens, William P. wShefiield, Jr., and Christopher M. Eee, of 
the Correspondence Committee, and also Messrs. William G. 
Stevens, Alexander N. Barker, Edward L. Spencer, Andrew 
J. Qiiinn, Benjamin F. Bliss, and Horatio B. Wood. Messrs. 
Newton and Spencer were placed in charge of the New York 
delegation ; Messrs. Sheffield and Wood were located at 
Odd Fellows Hall : Messrs. Lee and Quinn did duty at the 
First Methodist Church Vestry ; Messrs. Cozzens and Bliss 
registered those who came from Boston, and Messrs. Stevens 
and Barker took charge of the registration at the Citv Hall. 
It is gratifying to be able to record the tact that each and 
every one of these ten assistants labored with marked fidelity 
and intelligence, and received, as they certainly deserved, 
not only expressions of gratitude trom the Secretarv, but also 
from the entire Committee. At each one of the headquarters 
there was a steady stream of visitors during the dav preced- 
ing the celebration. As each person registered, he or she 
was given a Re-Union badge, which secured " proper recog- 
nition in all the ceremonies of the (Re-Union) day." While 
less than fifteen hundred persons registered, it is esdmated 
that there were in town more than eight times that number 
who were entitled to do so. The names of those who regis- 
tered, and their residences, are given in the latter part of the 
book. 

The day before that upon which the celebration was held, 



62 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

prov^ed to be a most busy one for all concerned, the Com- 
mittee being busily engaged putting the finishing touches upon 
the various details arranged for the great event. Colonel 
Albert C. Landers, who had been selected by the Com- 
mittee to decorate, as well as to illuminate, the public buildings 
and places, was busy, witb a large corps of assistants, in put- 
ting the old town in holiday attire. Mr. Lander's efforts in 
this direction were most successful. Welcominir arches had 
been erected and the monster tent was in position. Finally, 
there remained but little to do save await with complacency 
the arrival of the long looked-for and important day. Special 
trains and steamboats brought hundreds into the Cit3^ The 
Boston and New Bedford delegations arrived by the cars at 
six o'clock, and later in the evening the former, accompanied 
by the Dahlgren fife and drum corps, made things quite lively, 
serenading Captain John Waters, the Chairman, and Mr. F. G. 
Harris, the Secretary of the Re-Union Committee, Mayor 
Franklin, Mr. L. F. Attleton, Mr. J. G. Weaver, Mr. G. 
Washington, Mr. B. W. Pearce, General Burdick, Mr. H. F. 
Barnard, and other well known citizens. Then as 

The shades of night were falling fast, 
thousands of citizens and visitors \^•ended their way to Touro 
Park where the Re-Union Committee had arranged for an 
elaborate illumination of that mystery of mysteries, the Old 
Stone Mill. Strings of Chinese and Japanese lanterns ex- 
tended from the ground to the summit of the flag-statT, and, 
with the aid of large quantities of red and green fire, and the 
electric lights which flashed forth, trom numerous points, 
their brilliancy upon the spreading foliage, made a long to be 
remembered scene. The Newport, United States ship New 
Hampshire, and Fourth United States Artillery bands were in 
the Park, and enlivened the proceedings w-ith delightful music 
until, towards midnight, the immense crowd dispersed to their 
homes and temporary abodes, where, while held by Morpheus, 
the}^ were to dream of the great festival which the coming day 
was to inaugurate. 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE DAY AND THE OCCASION. 

In the early grey light of the morning of the Fourth, an 
observer turned back upon its creaking hinges the door to the 
cupola of the old State House, to gain one last, farewell 
glance at the fair City-by-the-sea, as she lay resting in festal 
array, before springing into activity and banishing the oppor- 
tunity forever. Below the grey-haired spectator, the Citv 
slept, recovering from the toils of one day for the festivities 
of the next; the gaily decorated and garlanded streets and 
avenues radiating and branching in various directions from 
his standpoint. At particular spots the color appeared to be 
grouped in masses, especially about Touro Park, some dis- 
tance to the south. Here but a few hours before, beneath 
the mingled banners and illuminations as they rose in great, 
glowing curves to the top of the tall statTs, and swayed gentlv 
to and tVo in the evening breeze, and while melody from the 
military bands resounded on every side, he had received his 
first welcome home. Now, all was quiet. Far in the east the 
bright, red, morning sunbeams heralded another of New- 
port's glorious, golden summer days, revealing faintly the 
passing sail, half-hidden by the early mists, away to the 
south, and touching with loving rellection the dark, beetling 
Clifis — so familiar, yet so changed. Above and bevond 
them, bright bits of color streamed in the morning breeze 
over the princely cottages, testifying to the general fellow- 
feeling and congratulation which the day itself, the event 
celebrated, and its associations called forth throughout the 
City. His gaze then swept over the wooded heights to the 
southward, resting at length on the massive outlines of the 
Fort, with its grey masonr}' barely rising above the dark- 
green earthworks, and bastions ; these, together with the 
small village of residences on the hillock beyond, bore bright 
evidences of holiday attire, and above which still lingered the 



64 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

light cloud from the morning gun. Later, at the sound of 
reveille, their inmates sprang, as it were, into activity, and 
hurried hither and thither engaged in the final preparations, 
and giving the finishing touches to apparel, accoutrement and 
field-piece, for the noon-day march in the City over the bay. 
The whole scene was instinct with life, color and action, as 
the varied military duties were quickly despatched. 

Not less enlivening was the scene upon the government 
vessels lying in the outer harbor. Long curving lines of 
brilliantly hued pennons, flags and streamers ran from the 
bowsprit over the tops of the towering masts to the stern, 
while amid the dense, black network between mast and spar, 
were seen bright bits of bunting in striking contrast to the 
white canvas and gleaming golden-hued wood work of the 
Saratoga, Jamestown, and New Hampshire. No sooner had 
the mornin<i salute flashed forth its welcome, than from the 
last named vessel the white-jackeled boys clambered out upon 
the island green-sward with their howitzers to prepare, like- 
wise, for the triumphal procession. Nearei" at liand, in the 
inner harbor, the graceful!}' moulded hulls of costly pleasure 
craft rocked lazily at their anchorage in the placid, tranquil 
waters, scarceh' rippled b\' the morning breeze as it swept 
over the hill-tops. About, over their dark exteriors gleamed 
the polished trimmings, while tVom stem to stern, from peak 
to peak, fluttered long brilliant festoons of naval and yacht 
signals flashing torth gay salutation and good cheer. Thus 
decorated was the Norseman, owned by Mr. Ogden Goelet ; 
the Intrepid, the property of Mr. Lloyd Phoenix ; the Meteor, 
of Mr. T. L. Pcirkes ; the Triton, of Mr. Harvey E. Dodge; 
the Theresa, of Mr. Joseph Fiske ; the Vixen, of Mr. Frank 
C. Lawerence ; the Wenonah, of Mr. James Stillman, while 
away among the other yachts that gracefully tossed their hol- 
iday ribbons as the occasional rollers swept in were the Mag- 
nolia, owned by Pro!'. Fairman Rogers ; the Lucilla, by Mr. 
Walter Green; the Rena, by E. H. Townsend ; the 
Stranger, by Mr. E. S. JafTray: the Twilight, from Provi- 
dence; the Waif, (Vom Bristol; the Freizen, of New York; 



THE DAY AND THE OCCASION. 



65 



the Undine, of Fall River, and the Scion, ofTaiuiton. Wav- 
ing bunting of divers hues streamed, also, near at hand, over 
the great steamers and workshops of the Old Colony Com- 
pany. 








But while the solitary observer was lost in mingled admira- 
tion of the moving, spirited scene and the reverie caused by 
the sdrring, deep-toned notes of the bells that brought back 
the past so vividly, the moments sped by and the City below 
roused into life and noisy, bustling work. From the north- 
ward and from the southward, among the verdant islets, as 



66 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

the}^ floated upon the calm waters, there continually grew 
into the field of vision brightly decorated steamers gradually 
swelling in size; the melody, rising from a chance, scarcely 
perceptible, tinkling to a full burst of martial music : the 
tone ot rejoicing thousands, from an indistinct murmur to the 
voice of the multitude. The yellow clouds of dust rolling 
from the suburban roads, heralded constant arrivals from those 
directions, while skirting along the harbor's shores crept the 
long lines of martial red and na\'al blue. Far and wide, tVom 
house-top, casement, and flag-statf fluttered, streamed, and 
snapped bunting of all coloi's and form, below resounded 
the hoarse roll ot the drum, the tramp of soldier}', the rattle 
ot hoofs and of arms, and the confused hubbub of a swaying, 
pushing, surging, shouting throng beneath the wide-spreading 
elm trees of the Park, With a sigh the spectator closed the 
door and a tew moments later was lost in the crowd. 

Over the brown exterior of the building this intent ob- 
server had just quitted, and from ridgepole to ridgepole, bunt- 
ing was displayed in the most attractive way. Streamers 
floated across its face from corner to corner, surrounding the 
central balcony in graceful festoons. Upon this, artistically 
draped and partiallv entwined, were banners bearing the 
brip'ht colors and contrasted desiii^ns of the cross of St. George, 
the French tricolor and the Stars and Stripes — signiflcant al- 
lusions to the stirring and momentous events that had taken 
place beneath its strong and still serviceable walls, during 
their truly eventful one hundred and fifty years iiistory. 
These episodes found still further expression in the paintings 
of patriotic ideals, industries, and State emblems and mottoes 
that everywhere shone amid the folds of bunting fancifully 
disposed over the exterior; that bearing the greeting, " Wel- 
come," and surrounded by the arms of the State forming the 
central device over the entrance. Here, as elsewhere 
throughout the City, taste rather than profusion characterized 
tile adornments. Directly in front of the State House and 
from either side of the street, rose a triumphal arch of ever- 
greens, leaves, and flowers among which glistened the 



THE DAY AND THE OCCASION. 67 

colored inscription, " Welcome to our Island Home." the entire 
structure bearing evidence of the good taste of Committeeman 
Wilbor. Ciiief among tiie tastefully decorated edifices facing 
Washington Square, were the National Exchange bank build- 
ing, the City Hall, the Perry House, and the residence of 
Mr. Augustus Gofie, who displayed the motto of " Welcome 
Home" used by him in 1859. O" ^^'^^ front of the first the 
S. R. Club had jilaced amid the flags an appropriate motto, 
" Wealth below, Happiness above." Amid the profusion of 
streamers, banners, pennons and flags, that floated in every 
direction over the City Hall, vvas hung a heroic picture of Com- 
merce, Columbia being surrounded by the evidences of trade, 
agriculture and manufacture, on every side. The plain, verti- 
cal face of the Perr\' House, with its iron balconies, seemed to 
ofTer at first sight but little scope for the decorator's art ; yet a 
graceful festooning of variegated bunting about door and win- 
dow, of the one, and a fanciful intertwining and skillful adjust- 
ment of its folds over the dark railino-s of the other, bearincr, as 
they did, stands of national colors, completely transformed the 
hotel's exterior in the most surprising way. About on ever}' 
side extended the decorations, changing Washington Square 
into a perfect blaze of color, \\hich was continued in almost 
unending and unbroken waves and undulations Iw garland, 
festoon, and flag far down the line of march. Thames Street, 
with old-time, familiar narrowness of roadway and unevenness 
of shop exteriors, was almost unrecognizable, and well nigh 
lost the diversit}' between the tall, modern blocks with their 
plate-glass fronts, and the modest, weather-beaten, old- 
fashioned dwellings that nestled close beside them with their 
unique architecture, pointed gables, diminutive windows, 
quaint cornices, and wainscoted halls, which, however, 
amid all their vicissitudes of a hundred years or more, had 
resounded with the joyous accents of no miore festive occasion 
than the present. Overhead the slowly moving banners, fes- 
toons and streamers formed a partial canopy, and, too, a 
resplendent though scant protection from the fierce rays of 
a July sun that poured down pitilessly, scarcely tempered by 



68 THK NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

the mornino- l-)reezes, into the narrow streets, courts, and ave- 
nues, crowded, as they were, to sut^bcation at prominent 
points. The immense masses of humanity, displaying in 
general the greatest possible combinations of life and color. 
ever changing in kaleidoscopic variety in grouping and strik- 
ing effects as the brilliant, contrasted tints from summer cos- 
tume and uniform shifted hither and thither, formed the most 
inspiring and enlivening spectacle. 

Such was the scene as viewed from the main thoroughfare. 
The handsome manner in which the United States Hotel, 
fronting on this street, had been adorned for the occasion, 
was the subject of very general remark. There, also, good 
taste took the place of a profusion and confusion of bunting. 
From Thames Street, at the head of Commercial Wharf, one 
could discern the fact that Mr. Lawton Coggeshall had thrown 
to the breeze from his place ot business a large and handsome 
new Hag bearing thereon the words, " Welcome flome. "' 
This was the lirst greeting which was extended to the man\- 
thousands ot returning ones who landed from the numerous 
steamers. 

The vast moving throngs overflowed the streets to the 
pavement, surged over verandas, and through the windows 
overlooking the route of march, and, also, fdled higher jirom- 
inent positions whence a view of the rejoicing multitude could 
be gained. Generally and srenerouslv were the dwellinefs 
ornamented along the line of march, though of more elabo- 
rate character and more noticeable desij^n in the central 
portion of the City, and, also, at especial points. Conspicuous 
among these were the hotels not already mentioned, and wiiich 
were dressed in holiday adornments at great expenditure of 
time, money, and skill. The surroundings of the Aquidneck 
House were entirely favorable for the plans of the art dec- 
orator, and well did he utilize ihem. From a point near the 
ridgepole, ribbon-like streamers stretched from an immense 
dazzling rosette in long curves to the neighboring edifices. 
Behind, and displa3'ed in fanciful figures and striking designs 
on tile w hite exterior, were arranged man^-colored flags of 



THE DAY AND THE OCCASION. 69 

all shapes and sizes, brioiit ribbons, rosettes, pennons, gath- 
ered in rich folds about door and window, about glitter- 
ing banner and shield. Amid this mass of blazing color 
stood a life size representation of the well known, noble face 
and figure of Washington, occup\Mng a central position on 
the front of the building, while over the front entrance shone 
in bright letters the appropriate and convivial greeting, 
'' Welcome to our Honored Guests." These, grouped about 
at ease upon balcony, veranda, and greensward, gave the 
requisite animation and tone of good cheer to the scene. 

A few steps up the hill brought one in view of the Ocean 
House, which presented by far the grandest and most impos- 
ing display of decorations. At first sight it appeared but 
one great, pulsadng mass of color. A nearer approach, how- 
ever^ showed with what artistic taste and elegance the ordinary 
aspect had been so translbrmed, though the immense piazzas 
and massive projections atlbrded a grand basis for work of 
the kind. To the peaks of the tall, slender flag-statls, from 
which waved the national colors, streamed from the estates 
on either side in resplendent curves heavy folds of bunting, 
falling again in fantastic shapes from statV to gable, trom 
gable to cornice, from cornice to casement. The colors of 
all nations were grouped in well contrasted stands and placed 
at prominent points over the exterior; from these iluttered 
pennons, drooping in folds to other projections and lieing con- 
cealed at length under the draperies profusely arranged over 
the front of the hotel. Among the tall columns and their 
cross-beams that front and flank the piazzas, were entwined 
brightly colored bands which wound in every dn-ection and 
depended on all sides, forming a perfect network above and 
about the crowds of chattering groups that thronged the ve- 
randas and terraces. Amid this wealth of drapery, over door 
and window, between casements, and surrounded by bunting, 
displayed in diamond, rectangular, and star-like shapes and 
also in manifold curves, gleamed, at suitable points, paintings, 
shields, banners, and other dazzling emblems, surrounding, 
as a whole, the life size representation of Columbia. 



70 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

So generoUvS and widespread was the eflbrt at ornamenta- 
tion that it would he, of course, impossible to reco^'nize the 
praiseworth}' zeal and liberality exhibited by every citizen in 
this reufard ; but amono- those on or near the line of march 
wliose efforts in this matter were exxeptionally elaborate and 
attracted general comment were General A. L. l>urdick, 
whose display of banners, flags and patriotic mottoes was es- 
pecially line, Mr. Charles H. Burdick, Mr. Lewis I>rowii, 
Alderman Waters, Mayor Franklin, Mr. George Peirce, Mr. 
C. M. Lee, Mr. W. J. Underwood, Mr. A. C. Titus, whose 
liberal decorations surrounded the suggestive sentiment, 
"Yours by Nativity, Ours by Choice,'" Mr. Thomas Glad- 
ding, Mr. Augustus Gotfe, "the I3ee Hive," Mr. C. F. 
Frasch, Mr. R. L. Oman, Mr. W. E. Dennis, Mr. W. li. 
Sherman, Jr., Mr. John Rogers, Messrs. Carry Bros., Col. 
Julius Sayer, Mr. J. D. Richardson, Mr. B. F. Downing, Jr., 
Mr. J. B. F. Denman, Mr. F. W. Greene, Mr. J. M. K. 
Southwick, Mr. C. E. ILammett, Messrs. Sullivan & Burke, 
Mr. Carl Hertgen, Mr. W. J. Swinburne, Mr. F. G. Harris, 
Messrs. Caswell, Hazard & Co., the Newport Gas Compan}-, 
Mr. J. P. Sanborn, the " One Price Clothing Store," Mr. T. 
M. Seabur}', Mr. J. E. Seabury, Messrs. Caswell, Massey &, 
Co., Messrs. J. H. Cozzens & Son, Messrs. Davis & Pitman, 
and numerous others. 

Many, in order to escape discomhture iVom the sultr\' 
heat and the jostling, hurrying crowds in the City, betook 
tliemselves to the gentle acclivit}' in Izard"s lot, where they 
could enjo}' the unrivalled view of the bay and the light, re- 
freshing sea breeze, and behold the speedy preparations made 
under the vast tent tor the banquet. Just without this, from 
a long and narrow smouldering mass, arose an appetizing 
aroma from a good, old-fashioned, Rhode Island chim bake. 
Jets of steam spurted through the cracks in the weather- 
beaten sail-cloth, bc-neath which the brown sea-wi'ed hissed, 
writhed snake-like, i")opped and shriveled upon the dark, red 
stones, while abo\'e, the bixalves groaned and sputtered as 
the\' surrendered their li\es in behalf of freedom and testiv- 



THE DAY AND THE OCCASION. 71 

ily, and the golden ears and dnsky lobsters seemed to catch 
the glow from the pebbles underneath. 

Wiiile some attendants mixed cooling beverages, others 
gave the tinishing touches to the tent and its contents, adjust- 
ing a tlag or garland here, or arranging a bouquet or bou- 
tonniere there. Beautilul, irldeed, was the aspect the pavilion 
{presented when the carpenters, under the etHcient direction 
of Mr. Charles H. Burdick, had driven the last nail and 
tightened the last rope, and when the decorator had hung the 
last motto-bearing device, and laid down the last flower. 
Acres ot gleaming linen in long lines, extending from north- 
east to south-west and running the length of the enclosure, bore 
a sparkling array ot silver, glass ware, and china, enhanced 
in ellect by bits of color from bouquet, tVuit, and viand. On 
the western side a large platform, also adorned with plants, 
llower, and flag in the most charming wav, supported the 
banquet for the speakers and other distinguished guests. A 
vacant space in front of this was, moreover, beautified by 
clumj-js of tropical plants and flowers generouslv provided 
tor the occasion by Mrs. August Belmont and Mr. Harr}' 
Stevens, who were fully in s\'mpathy with the event and its 
associations. To the southward tVom the grand stand ex- 
tended the liiree tables for the Providence delegation, close 
beside whom the Boston party was to sit, while the next three 
tables were reserved for the prodigals from New York, and 
the last two tor the New Bedford representatives. A few tables 
to the lelt ot the platform were to be apportioned to the mis- 
cellaneous delegations, while those not utilized in this wa\' 
would accommodate the remainder of the participants in the 
procession. 

Meanwhile the barely audible tones of the hells, the mutfled 
reports ot fire-arms and fireworks, the faint strains of music, 
distinguishable above the low, swelling monotone of jiopular 
clamor, gave evidences of the approacii of the procession. 
These gradually increased in volume, distinctness, and sig- 
nificance till the distinguished guests entered, escorted by the 
Committee in charu'e. FoUowina" came the visitors in a con- 



72 



THE NEWPORT RK-UNION. 



tinuoiis stream till the various positions assigned to the several 
delegations were occupied. From the elevated stand the 
scene was most impressive, accompanied as it was by a per- 
fect babel of voices. Far on either side, extended the sea 
of faces. Immediately on the left and right, a most charming 
etlect was given to the contrasted toilets of the ladies, while 
beyond stretched long lines of martial gold and red in brilliant 
contrast to civihan costume, the wliite suits of the apprentice 
bovs, ami the tiremen's attire. Behind them were heaped the 
musical instruments, the drums, the banners, notabh' that of 
the Boston delegation which bore a picture of the Old Mill 
with aj')[')ropriate mottoes upon a blue ground, and, moreover, 
the variegated and fancifully decorated Japanese parasols 
which their bearers found so picturesipie and useful upon the 
march. 




MO.NE MHJ.. 



CHAPTER VIII, 




THE PROCESSION. 

The punctuality with which the 
Br^ ^^^ procession started, and also ar- 
''^^'^^=?:,' rived at the tent, caused man}- a 
12^ compliment to be paid to the Chief 
Marshal. Indeed, not a tew peo- 
ple marveled when, within five 
^ minutes of the appointed time, 
he gave the order for the line to 
WHITEHALL. uiovc, for howcvcr much faith 

might have in the ability of the gentleman to arrange the 
details of such a monster procession as the Re-Union day wit- 
nessed, it was not thought possible tor him to so marshal the 
various forces as to avoid the wearisome delay which usually 
marks such occasions. But he did, and the result was that 
much of the pleasure experienced during the day, had its origin 
in that fact. 

Washmgton Square had been selected as the spot from 
which the procession was to start. While the Square and 
lower Touro Street combined are quite capacious, they were 
not sutHciently so to enable every section of the line to thid a 
halting place within their limits, and the result was that sev- 
eral adjacent thoroughfares had to be utilized for that purpose. 
The assistant marshals experienced considerable ditliculty in 
<<:ettin<r the numerous divisions into the localities which had 
been assigned to them, but the exercise of much forbear- 
ance, coupled with strict attention to their duties, enabled 
them, finally, to overcome every obstacle and report to their 
Chief that all' was in readiness. 

Meanwhile the various members of the Reception Com- 
mittee had been busily engaged in welcoming eminent 



74 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

guests from abroad. They had estabhshed headt^uarters at 
the Aquidneck House, the United States Hotel, and the Perry 
House, and at each of the two latter hostelries had an elegant 
collation served during the morning. The Committee made 
the Perry House their chief headquarters, and there His 
Excellency, Governor l^ourn, was escorted on his arrival 
from Bristol, whence he came on one of Herreshoff's swift 
launches. Awaiting His Excellency were Ex-Mayor Slocum, 
Chairman of the Reception Committee, and several of his 
associates. As the Governor entered the handsomely deco- 
rated parlor, Chairman Slocum, with a dignity and suavity of 
manner that invariably characterizes him on such occasions, 
approached him, and while presenting him with a magnificent 
bouquet of rare flowers, addressed words of welcome to the 
distinguished guest as follows : — 

May it p/case your ExccUcjicy : — 

In liehalf of the Committee of Reception, I extend to you a cordial 
welcome to the ancient capital of the State. Our hospitalities are 
not l)ountiful, but such as we have, we g-ratefully tender to you. We 
feel honored by the presence of the Chief JNIa^istrate of the State to 
share with us in the celebration of the birthday of this great nation. 
This lovely island was desolated by the re\olulionary stru^'gle for a 
time. During that war everything in this place, save the endurance 
and patriotism of its people, appeared to be crushed l)v the power of 
ovu" pubHc eneni\-, and the prosperity of oiu" people long huiguished 
from the wounds then inflicted, yet to-dav with one voice thev con- 
<j-ratulate themselves upon the glorious results of tiie Revolution. 
With one accord we welcome vou here to share in oiu' festivities 
upt)n this interesting occasion, not only as the Chief Magistrate of the 
vState, but because of the man\' excellencies of your personal character. 

To this exceedingly fitting address, Governor Bourn made 
the following response : 

Mr. (hairma)i : — 

I thank vou, sir, for the kind manner in which you have welcomed 
me to the hospitalitv of the City of Newport. It gives me very great 
pleasure to be able to visit youi" l)eautiful Cit\- to-day, to meet so many 
of my personal friends — and to join in die festivities of the occasion. 

The patriotism of your people is, I am convinced, no less endiu'- 



THE PROCESSION. 



75 



in_o- to-day than it was a luindrccl years or more ■<i<xu when thcv en- 
dured the hardships of a hostile oceui:)atif)n. 

It is certainly \ery appropriate, while vou recall to-dav the u^lorious 
deeds ot your fathers in defence of our national liberties, to <i,"ather 
the vSons antl Dauii^hters of Newport from every section of the land — 
to revive the associations of your earh" days — and to devote \()ur- 
selves anew to preserxe and perpetuate the lilierties inherited from 
your ancestors. 




I II \MI ■^ s 1 lil L I 



While these pleasant ceremcjnies were in progress, the hur- 
ryinu- hither and thither by the x\ssistant Marshals, the mar- 
tial strains from numberless instruments, and the ever increas- 
ing throng on Washington Square, told plainly that the hom^ 
for the line to move was rapidly approaching. The lower 
floor of the State House which had, for an hour or more, 
been filled with scores of handsomely unilormed otHcers of the 
Army, Navy and militia, and also with many distinguished 
civilians, was now emptied, the last of these ha\ing been 
escorted to the carriages provided for them. Outside the 



76 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

State House, mounted on a gayly caparisoned steed, and 
supported on either side b}' an aid, was Chief Marshal 
Swinburne, waiting for the words, "Sir, my division is in 
readiness," to come from the last assistant to report. Finally 
the hour of eleven struck, the last report was received, and 
then the line moved in the following 

ORDER OF PROCESSION. 

Police Officers Driscoll and G. A. Wilcox, mounted. 

Assistant Marshal A. L. Bukdick. 

4th United vStates Artillery Band. 

Battalion of tlie 4th U. »S. Artillery, Major Roder, commanding. 

Battery E, Lieutenant Anderson, commanding". 

Battery D, Lieutenant Ennis. commanding. 

BattervG, Lieutenant (jerard, commanding. 

U. S. S. New Hampshire Band, William McQiiown, leader. 

Naval Brigade from the U. vS. Training Squadron, 

Lieutenant E. IL Green, commanding; 

Lieutenant F. H. Carter, Adjutant General. 

Chief Marshal J. W. vSwinburne. 

Chief Marshal's Aids, W. C. Swinburne, and W. T. Bull. 

Newport l^rass Band, William Mathers, leader. 

Newport Artillery, Colonel G. IL Vaughan, commanding. 

Carriage containing His Excellency, Governor Bourn, Mayor 

Franklin, and C^iartermaster General Dennis. 

The Governor's Personal Staff, mounted. 

Carriage containing Brigadier General E. H. Rhotles, Lieutenant 

Colonel Chase, and Captain Manchester. 
Adjutant (jeneral D\er, and Staff, Rhode Island Militia, mounted. 

Newport Light Infantry, Captain P. vSchneider, commanding. 

CharlesE. Lawton Post, No. 5, G. A.R., Commander John McCarty. 

Department Commander A. K. McMahon, Vice-Department 

Commander Cor\', and 16 meml)ers of vStatf, G. A. R., mounted. 

Carriage containing Asa Lyman, John F. Bovven, B. F. Davis, and 

W. II. Tabor, of the G. A. R. Staff. 

Carriage containing General Viall, Colonel Turner, and 

Colonel J. VV". Lyon. 



THE PROCESSION. 77 

Carriage contaiiiino- Dr. J. IT. Taxlor, 'i\ J. L. Farrow, 

R. II. Peckham, and J. S. Chase, of thJci. A. R. 

Cariia<ie coiitainini;- Captain Freeman Ma\herr^•, Jol) La\\t<)n, and 

John 11. Stoddard. 

Carria;j,e conlainino- Ijcnjaniin T. Lawton, vS;nnuel (t. Wright, and 

George Denniston. 

Drag containing;- 3S yoini«- hidies. representing- the diflerent states. 

Assistant Marshal. A. C. Titus. 

* Fall River Brass Band. 

Newport Fire Department. 

Chief Engineer, H. H. Tillev ; Assistant Engineers, J. (j. .Stevens, 

J. E. Lake, G. A. Brown, and A. Kii'win. 

Engine Co. No. i, G. A. Martin, Ibreman, 23 men. 

Hook and Ladder Co. No. i. G. E. Vernon, ]r., foreman, 20 men. 

Engine Co. No. 2, J. D. Pike, foreman, 28 men. 

Hose Reel Co. No. 4, P. Bosworth, foreman, 13 men. 

Engine Co. No. 5 and Reel, G. C. .Shaw, foreman. 30 men. 

Hose Reel Co. No. 6, .S. Sullivan, foreman, 20 men. 

Engine Co. No. 7, C. A. Easton, foreman. 31 men. 

Hose Reel Co. No. 8. A. P. Sisson, foreman, 23 men. 

Hercules Fire Association, 43 men and 30 ex-memlieis and 

invited guests. 

Assistant Marshal Hayes. 

St. Mar\-'s Catholic Benevolent Association, John TVlartin, marshal. 

Father Matthew Total ^Mistinence vSociety, Michael Butlei'. piesident. 

Assistant Marshal Howard .Smith. 

Carriage containing Chief Justice Durfee, Col. W. A. .Stedman, 

Alderman Waters, Chairman, and F. G. Ilariis, .Secretar\- 

of the Coiumittee. 

Carriage containing Councilmen Hamilton, J>arker, O'Neill, and 

Sullivan. 

Carriage containing Councilman .Stanhope, George A. Downing, 

James Westgate, and William F. Lawton. 

Cai"riage containing .State Auditor Cross, .Senatoi- .Seal)ury, and ■ 

Representatives Townsend and Can'. 

Carriage containing Deputy .SheritI" Lake, City Treasurer Cogges- 

hall. Judge Ward, and Geo. A. Littlelield, Superintendent 

of .Schools. 



78 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

Carriao'c contaiiiin<4; Jolm Gilpin and John G. Costcllo. 

Carriage containini^ Geors^e Pealxxlv Wetmore and Dr. II. R. Storer. 

Carriage containing Alderman Langlev, B. W. Pcarce, J. W. 

Kensett, and George T. Hammond. 

Assistant Marshal G. vS. Perry. 

Carriage cfMitaining ex-Mayor Slocum, Captain P. C. Johnson, 

commanding Training Fleet ; Captain Gritlkn, commantl- 

ing U. vS. vS. Jamestown, and Lieutenant L. C. 

Logan, U. S. N. 

Carriage containing Paymaster Furey, and Assistant Paymaster 

Cowie, of the New Hampshire, Paymaster Chapman, of the 

Jamestovyn, and Henry VV. Cozzens. 

Carriage containing Major Fuger and Adjutant Dyer, U. S. A., 

and Colonel W. J. Cozzens. 

Carriage containing Captain Irish, Captain Gahrielson and Lieutenant 

Baldwin, U. S. Reyenue Marine >Ser\ice, and Deput\' 

Collector Newton. 

Carriage containing Dr. Wood, clerk of the coiu^ts. Captain Draper, 

W. J. II. ^Vilman. tax collectoi'. and Re\ . F. Rector. 

Carriage containing j. E. Chaml)L'ilin and T. T. Pitman. 

Carriage containing C. AI. Lee, B. F. Bliss, AUlerman Cottrell, and 

Councilman Peckh.nn. 

Carriage cont-aining John P. Sanborn, Alderman Hopkins. Council- 
man Willior, and VV. J. Undervyood. 
Carriage containing Postmaster Coggeshall. Collector J. II. Cozzens, 

J. J. Peckham, and II. B. Wood. 
Carriage containing Rey. E. F. Clark, Rey. F. J. Cooper, and Rey. 

II. N. Jeter. 
Carriage containing Rey. J. IloUingshead, Rey. F. W. l>aker, Rey. 

F. I'\ Emerson, and Rey. A. P. Mendcs. 

Carriage containing President Roliinson, of l)rown Uni\ersity. Rey. 

M. \'an llorne. Charles II. PhisIi, and William 1 1 . Williams. 

Carriage containing W. B. Rider, John \ aughn, W illiam H. 

Henderson, and Paul Dexter. 

Carriage containing Orland I"^reel)orn, I'reehorn Coggeshall, 

James Maxon, and II. A. Howard. 

Carriage containing K. C. Fopham, Rol)ert iVllen. Alfred Wilson, 

and William D. Wilson. 



THE PROCESSION. 79 

Carriage cuiitaiuiny; J. vS. Lewis, F. II. Evans, George Bell, 

aiul Mr. Shaw. 

Carriage containing A. K. (^uiini. Richard vShernian, 

and R. Dunliani. 

Carriage containing A. P. Bashtbrd, U. S. N., vS. W. Bush, 

Marcus Bush, and J. W. Lawton. 

Carriage containing T. W. Coggeshall. J. W. Cornell, and 

Charles Clark. 

Carriage containing Benjamin Lawton, S. V. Dunwell, Alex Jack, 

and B. B. Sherman. 
Carriage containing Peleg Clarke, H. D. Langworthy, John C. Clarke, 

and George P. Lawton. 
Carriage containing Wm. S. Cranston, Peter Lee, Colonel Barton, 

Jas. Dowling. 

Carriage containing Peter vScott, W. B. West, James ,S. Alason, 

Jeremiah Shea, antl John Downing, (Hsal)led \eterans. 

Carriage containing James G. Gil)bs and Jutlge F. Wickham. 

Carriage containing John vS. Palmer, Rev. Alfred Manchester, and 

Fred A. Stanhope. 

Carriage containing Hermann Lilienthal and E. B. Mumford. 

Assistant Marshal Frkd M. Hammett. 

New York Drum Corps. 

Delegation of Returned Sons from New York, W'm. G. 

Peckham, Chairman. 

Delegation of Returned Sons from Providence, T. A. Barton, marshal. 

Assistant Marshal T. W. Freeborne. 

Drum and i\i'L- corps of Dalilgren Post, G. A. R., Boston. 

Delegarion of Returnetl vSons from Boston, Rev. .Solon Bush, 

Chairman. 
Delegation of Returned Sons from New Bedford. Thomas Cogges- 

liall. Chairman. 

Other returned Sons from all sections of the country. 

Assistant Marslial T. G. S. Turner. 

Light Battery B, 4th U. S. Artillery, Lieutenant R. P. Strong, 

commanding. 

The procession was a most imposing one, and by far the 
laro-est ever seen in tliis vicinity. Nearly totu- thousand per- 



8o 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



sons were in line, while tens of thousands viewed the pro- 
cession along the route of march which led from Washington 
Square to Broadway, thence to and down Marlborough Street 
to Thames Street ; down Thames Street to and up Franklin 
Street to Spring Street ; along Spring Street to Broadway and 
Bliss road where a counter-march took place ; down Broadway 
to and up Mann Avenue to Kay Street ; along Kay Street and 
Bellevue Avenue to Bowery Street ; down Bowery Street to 
Spring Street, and thence to the Izard lot, where, as alread}' 
stated, the Re-Union Committee had arranged for substantial 
food for the bodies, and lofty and reminiscent thought for the 
minds of those who, whether they had journe}ed from afar 
oft', or had their permanent habitation here, assisted, in such 
generous numbers, in making the processional portion of the 
day's exercises such a charming and unqualified success. 




JEWISH CEMETERY. 




LANDS EXD. 

CHAPTER IX. 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 

The two hours march had sharpened the appetites of those 
who went to make up the procession, and but iittle wonder 
was expressed, theretbre, at the onshiught, made in all quar- 
ters of the monster tent, upon the choice viands which the 
liberality of the public and the skill of the caterer had pro- 
vided. The arrangements appeared to satisfy even those who 
were most critically inclined, and the knowledge of that fact 
brought a large measure of satisfaction to every member of the 
Re-Union Committee, and particularl}' to those who were 
specially delegated to look after the tent and the collation. 

As soon as the last delegation was seated, and the eminent 
guests and Committee had taken their places on the raised 
platform, the commanding voice of Chairman Waters was 
heard addressing the vast multitude as follows : 

CHAIRMAN waters' REISIARKS. 

Ladies and iiciitlouoi : — 

The Rc-linion Day has arrived and we are not oiil\- l)lest \\ itli 
beautiful weather to assist us in enjovinir it, but wc are blest with 



82 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

an iininc'iise attendance ot"* returned Sons and Dau<;hters, which, 
more than an}thing else pos.sil)l\- could, well repass the Committee 
for an}' labor they may have performed, or an\ anxiety the\- may 
have experienced, in their elForts to make the occasion the pleasant 
success which we now believe it to he. 

It is proper that an official welcome shoidd be extended to the 
returned vSons and Daughters, and I therefore be^- to introduce His 
Honor, Mayor Franklin, who will now address nou. 

When the apphitise which greeted the conclusion of Chair- 
man Waters' pleasant words had subsided, the Mayor arose 
and was most cordially received. He delivered the follow- 
ing address : 

MAYOR franklin's WELCOMING WORDS. 

Returned Sons and Dau^Jiters : — 

I g^rcet ycni. and in the name and behalf of the people of Newport 
bid you a hearty and cortlial welcome to our old Cit\ -b\-the-sea. 
I welcome } on to the place of your nativitv, and of vour chiltlhood 
days, the dearest spot on earth — Home. 

Such is the patriot's boast, where'er we roam. 
His first, best coimtrv, e\'er is at home. 

The Sons and Daujj,'hters of Newport are scattered far and w ide, 
not only in our own country, l)ut also in foreign lands, and, \\ here\ er 
they have settled, have received the confidence and lespect of all w ith 
whom they have associated. To-dav, manv, unable to be present on 
this festive occasion, are looking with anxious eves to Newport, and 
I have no doubt their hearts are overflowing with love for those at 
home, and beating with pride, in unison with our own, that they are 
numltered with those wdio claim this Cit\- as their l)irthplace. 

How interesting this occasion ! On this anniversarv dav. which 
is held sacred by every true American, we are assembled at a familv 
gathering. -Some of n'ou are in the prime of life, others at its 
meridian, and not a few ha\ e arrixed at a ripe old age, even bevond 
three score and ten. You ha^•e come to the old hearthstones to 
renew your fealty to the spot that gave \'ou birth. How rapid is the 
flight of time ! A (piarter of a centur\- has passed since the first Re- 
Union. Some of \<)U were present then, others can hardh recall the 
scenes and festi\ities of that dav. No one can imagine vour 
thoughts, neither can pen describe vour emotions, as nou stantl again. 
after these years, on your native soil. Change is written on all 
around, yet there is suflicicnt of old Newport to reniintl you of 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. B^ 

lormcr \cars. Tlie waves of tlic ocean roll on our beach, and dash 
their spray al()n_<;j our rock-boiuul coast. The old Stone Mill, the 
subject of so nnich controversy, remains unchan_<j^ed. The spire of 
Trinity Church still points hea\en\\ard. and the interior arrange- 
ments of that \enerable edifice remind us of days of yore. Some of 
the friends and playmates of your early days are here, but many, 
and, alas, the lart;"er number, ha\ e passed to the great beyond. Their 
remains lav in the silent city of the dead, and the chiseleil marble 
marks their cpiiet resting place. Many of the pleasant fields, where 
in boyhood we engaged in youthful sports, are covered with elegant 
and costlv dwellings. Wealth, art. and culture have added to our 
natural attractions, and contributed largely to the present reputation 
of our Citv. 

To the old and the new, I welcome you. When, in the ^ears to 
come, your thoughts return to this day, may the memories thereof 
be pleasanl, and ma\ each one 

])eem his own laiui of every land the pride. 

Bcloveti by Heaven o'er all the world beside; 

His home the spot of earth supremely blest, 

A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest. 

Before the speaker restimed his seat he invited the Rev. 
Georo-e J. Magill, rector of Trinity Church, to invoke the 
Divine blessing. Tiie distinguished theologian prayed earn- 
estlv tor a blessing to rest on the day and tlie occasion, and in 
most inspiring words thanked the Creator for all His mercies. 

All had become hushed at the opening of the prayer, but 
at its close rose, louder than ever, the suggestive, tinkling 
music of plate and spoon. Later arose the more inspiring 
strains from tife and drum, cornet and flute, as the feast con- 
tinued, from the various bands present. Grand, indeed, was 
the sight of this immense assemblage engaged in feasting and 
rejoicing : but, grander still was that when the thrilling, 
heartfelt words of the speakers roused the eager, enthusiastic 
auditors, as they crowded near to catch the eloquent sentences, 
to express their delight in bursts of the most rapturous applause. 

When, at the conclusion of the meal, comparative quiet 
reigned. His Honor, the Mayor, once more arose and said it 
was his pleasing dutv to introduce to them, as Toastmaster 
for the auspicious occasion, a gentleman whose mind well 



84 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

fitted him to successfully perform the duties incident to such 
an honorable position. He presented Colonel William A. 
Stedman, whose reception by the assembled multitude must 
have been most gratifying to that gentleman. 

The Toastmaster at once assumed the position to which he 
had been assigned by the Committee. The admirably 
worded toasts and sentiments he had prepared, and the felici- 
tous manner in which he introduced each speaker, left a most 
charming impression upon ever}' one whose good fortune it 
was to be present. 

THE TOASTMASTER's OPENING REMARKS. 

To l)egin these exercises properly upon this (la\- our liearts should 
overleap the boundaries of municipality and State and pay the tribute 
of loyal devotion to our common country, its glorious institutions, and 
its government. To increase, if possible, the fervor of the tribute, I 
will ask the Secretary, Mr. F. (j. Harris, wliose executive ability, 
unceasing energy, hearty de\'otion and unquenchal)le enthusiasm 
have made a large measure of to-day's success, to read a letter which 
he has received from President Arthur, and also letters from Senators 
Anthony and Aldrich, Representatives Chace and .Spooner, and 
our nation's historian, tlie Acnerable George Bancroft. 

The Secretary read as follows : 

PRESIDENT ARTHITr's REPEV. 

Executive Mansion, Washington, Jinie 26. 1SS4. 
AA' Dear S/r : — 

The President has received your favor of the 23d instant with 
inclosiu'e extending to him. on belialf of the Committee ha\'ing 
the matter in charge, an invitation to be present at the contemplated 
Re-Union, on the Fourth of July next, of the Sons and Daughters of 
Newport. 

It would give the President much plcasuie to \isit Newport at the 
time nametl, and to participate in the festi\ ities of this interesting 
occasion, but he regrets that his official engagements will den\- him 
that privilege. 

Ex])ressing the President's thanks for the courtesy of tlie invita- 
tion, and his l)est wishes for the success of the gathering. I am 
Very truly yours, 

Fred. J. Puileii'S, Private Secreiarv. 
FiJANK G. ITarius, Escj^., Secretary, etc. 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 8^ 

SENATOR Anthony's rksponse. 

Providence, R. I., June 19, 1SS4. 

J\/y Dear Sir: — 

I have }'()urs of tlie I3tli, conveving the kind invitation for 
nie to participate in the Rc-l^nion of the .Sons and Dau^liters of 
New^port, and have been tr\in^- to persuade myself ever since that 
I could accept the same; liut 1 am forced to the conclusion that 
I must deny myself the pleasure of taking- part in so interesting an 
occasion. 

A century and a half ago, Newport was the chief seat of polite 
society in America ; its matchless harbor was crowded with ship- 
ping ; it was an important na\al rendezvous of the motlier countrv ; 
it rivalled New York in commerce. Wealth and foreign intercourse 
brought a degree of culture and refinement hardly known in the 
other colonies. '^ Townsend's Tavern," its principal hostelr\', was 
renowned throughout the North American Continent and the West 
Indies. In its great chamber, the Governor of the State, when not a 
resident of Newport, has slept on Election night, for an hundred 
successive years. I well remember the burly form and honest, mas- 
sive face of the last landlord of the name — I believe he was the last, 
though he may ha\ e liad a successor. It was especiallv famous for 
its tautog, which was cooked in its kitchen with marvellous excel- 
lence. It used to be said that when the traveller nxle up to its hos- 
pitable door, the servant who took his bridle while he dismounted, 
would say, ''will you have it biled or briled ?" I fear that your 
modern French cookery has spoiled the tautog ; and with all the 
new-tangled sauces and condiments, displacing the simple melted 
butter, seasoned with salt, pepper and parslev, has destro\ed the 
honest old Rhode Island flavor of tautog, and has reduced it to the 
level of the sheepshead, the Spanish mackerel, the salmon, and 
other ortlinary denizens of the deep. I look forward to the time 
when the unequalled facilities of vour harbor for a na\al station and 
for commercial purposes shall be appreciated and emplo\ ed ; when 
its wharves shall again be crowded with foreign shipping, and piled 
high with the products of every clime ; when the flag of our country 
shall float from the masts of a score of public vessels anchored in the 
waters that spread before the ancient capital of the State and lave the 
feet ot the fair queen of the Narragansett ; and, thus, uniting trade 
and commerce and the naval service to the attractions of nature, antl 



86 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

tlic liomes of comfoi-t aiul luxuvv to the warehouses of traffic, the 
Citv shall more than resume her former commercial importance, and 
enter upon a new career of prosperity and greatness. 
\\'ith great respect, 

I am, yoin"s faithfully. 

II. 13. Anthony. 
Frank G. Harris. Esq_., .Secretary. 

FROM SENATOR ALDIUCH. 

Senate Chamber, Washington, June 30, 18.S4. 

Dear Sir : — 

I iiave (lela\ed responding to your \er\' kind insitation in ])ehalf of 
the Committee on the Re-Union of tlie .Sons and Daughters of Nevy- 
port for the Fourth of July proximo, hojiing that I might he ahle to 
accept. The prohahilitN" of a iinal adjournment of Congress at 
the close of the \yeek renders it necessar\- that 1 should remain in 
Washington in the discharge of m\' puhlic duties at the date 
named. 

With thanks for \()ur kindness, and liest \\ ishes for the success of 
your Re-Lhiion, 

I am, yery trid\ \()urs, 

Np:eson W. Ai.drtch. 
Mr. Fijank (j. Harris, .Secretar}-, etc., 
Newport, R. I. 

con(;ressman chace's answer. 

IIoi;sE oi" Representati\'ES, ) 
Washino'iox, I). C, June 14, 1S.S4. ) 

Frank G. Harris, Secretary, etc. 

Rvspcrtcil hrici/d : — 

I haye th}- letter of the 13th, inyiting me to l)e present and respond 
to the sentiment, ••( )ur Representatiyes in Congress." at \()nr Re- 
I'nion the |th proximo. rhankiug \()ur Association lor the iii\ ita- 
tion. 1 am oliHged to decline, as 1 shall not he ahle to he in New port 
at that time. 

\'er\ sincei-el\ . 

J. Chace. 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 87 

CONGUKSSMAX Sl'OON liu's REGKKTS. 

Ilorsi-: ()[•■ Reim{Ksi;\ r.\ TIN 1-s, ) 
W .\Mii.\c;i()\. 1). C. juMc iS, 1884. ) 

Frank G. IIakkis, Esc^. , .Secretary of Coinmiltce, 
Newport. 

.1/r nrar S/r :— 

I regret that ni\ piiMic duties, which deniaiul my continued pres- 
ence here, pre\eut ni\ acceptance of the kind inxitation ol your 
Committee, and Inrhid me the hope of l)eini;- ahle to participate 
with my New port iViends in their Re-Uniou of the Fourth of July- 
next. 

With most cordial wishes for the enjoyment of the Sons and 
I)au,<,diters of Newi)ort in the attractions which their ancient City so 
ahundantK allords. and in the pleasant memories which the occasion 
which l)rin<;s them together must revive, and with thanks to \-our 
Committee for their courteous remembrance, I remain, 

Vours sincerely, 

H. J. vSpooxer. 

HON. (JEO. l!A\CRC)K'r's LETTER. 

Newport. Rhode Island, July 3, 1884. 

.1/)' near S/r :— 

\'our invitation to take an acti\e ])art in the ceremonies tor ^^reet- 
iu;^ the emigrants from this hlessetl Island on their \ isit to their old 
home, 1 could not for obvious reasons accept ; but 1 join in the hearty 
welcomes with \\hich vou meet them as they return to their birth- 
place. Thev hnd the Island as beautiful, as fertile, and as ^reen as 
when their eves first opened upon it. Their acceptance of our 
in\itation shows that thev delight in all the memories that make 
of us one family. 

We might seem to have a right to complain of them that by their 
emigration the\ha\e deserted ns ; but on second thought we are 
])roud that the\- ha\e gone out from among us, for wherever they 
dwell, the\- carr\ the principles which are their birthright, the \iii- 
dication of freedom of mind, the equality of religious faith, courage, 
the spirit of enterprise and e\en (jf achenture on sea and on laiul. 



88 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



the love of country, the devoted attachment to union, the affection for 
the whole family of man, and confidence in its constant achancement 
in the practice of liberty and justice. 

I remain, my deai" sir, 
Faithfully your fellow citizen and friend. 

Geo. Bancroft. 

The regular toast list w^as now in order, and for nearly 
three hours the several eminent orators held the rapt atten- 
tion of the host of people present. The toasts and the re- 
plies, etc., are given herewith, and in the order in which thev 
were delivered. 




ANCIENT DAYS. 
FIRST REGULAR TOAST. 

Our Jh'loved IJttIc State of Rhode Island— i^ha tills l)ut a small 
sj)ace on the coiuitrv's map. hut the deeds of her fSons in Held and 
coimcil fill a large space in the coiuitrv's historv. 

REi'Ev OF nis excp:i.lencv, govf:rxor bourn. 

It gives me great pleasure to he able to be with vou to-dav and join in 
the celebration of our National Anniversar\- and in the Re-Union of 
the Sons and Daughters of Newport. You call upon me to respond 
for the .State of Rhode Island. It is alwa\s a j)lcasant dut\- for me 
to respond for her and especiallv to-(la>-, when I see the enthusiasm 
with wiiich the people of Newport have celebrated this anniversary. 
It is unfortunately becoming somewhat connnon, especiallv in our 
larger cities, to omit public celebrations of the day, and to lea\e its 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 89 

ol>.scrv:incc almost entirely to the children. It cannot be that we are 
insensible to the glorions deeds of our ancestors, or of gratitude to 
those who laid the foundations of our government. u])on which so 
great a nation has iirisen. Let the da\' for all time be celebrated by 
the ringing of bells, the tiring of cannon, and by all other manifesta- 
tions of joy, and let those of mature years meet together to recall the 
events that led to the Rexolution, the trials and hardships our fathers 
endured during eight years of warfare, and the momentcnis conse- 
quences that have resulted from our separation from England. ,So 
shall the love of our coimtry be kept alive and perpetuated. Our 
children shall receive it from us, and transmit it unimpaired to pos- 
terity. I had always lieen taught to beliexe that the destruction of 
the British sloop of war Gaspee, In- citizens of Pnnidence, was the 
first overt act of war against the mother countrv. But I find that 
years l)cfore that time, in Julv 1764, the garrison of Fort George, at 
Newport, by command of two magistrates fired upon the British 
vessel of war St. John. What the consequences of this attack were 
history does not relate, but we learn enough to know that at that 
early period the people of Newport were alive to their rights, and 
were willing to defend them at the mouth of the cannon. We can- 
not fully realize the earnestness with which the Colonists entered 
upon the war of the Revolution. Along series of disputes with Eng- 
land over questions in which thev took a vital interest had forced 
them to take common ground and iniited action in the defence of 
their rights. We may form a faint idea of their spirit when we re- 
call the fact, that the day after the news of the battle of Lexington was 
received in Providence, a thousand well-armed men started for the 
scene of battle. When we consider that the population of the colony 
was less than 60,000 ; that there were no means of communication 
lietween the difierent towns, other than private con\'evances ; that the 
people of the vState were comparatively poor, and \\ ere dependent on 
Europe for their arms, ammunition, and, in fact, for almost every 
article of comfort and necessity except the products of the soil, it 
indicates that a most decided and determined spirit pervaded the 
whole people, and that they lived in constant readiness for any 
emergency of war. Could we to-dav, with our thickly settled pop- 
ulation, with all our wealth and resoiuxes, with railroads and tele- 
graphs at our command, nnister and march a thousand men at a 
shorter notice.'^ In all the conflicts and hardships of the Revolution, 
from Bunker Llill to Yorktown, our vState bore its full share. We 
remember with pride that we contributed to the army one w ho, in 



90 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

military skill, in statesmanship aiul in his clc\()te(] patriotism, was 
second only to Washington himself, who hy his skilltnl generalship 
saved onr armies in the South and in whom Washington at all times 
placed the most implicit confidence — General Nathaniel Greene. 

As we suflered with our sister colonies in all the defeats, in all the 
trials, in all the privations of the Revolution, so we claim our full 
share in all its glories. 

The changes that have taken place since our separation froni the 
mother country have been indeed marvellous. From a few colonists 
thinly scattered over a narrow strip of country extending from Maine 
to Georgia, we have grown to be a nation of more than imperial 
dimensions, larger and more powerful than Rome in the height of 
her glory. Alexander or Caesar never dreamed of so vast an em- 
pire. We cannot realize, we cannot imagine, the effect upon tlie 
destinies of the world of planting on this continent so large and 
powerful a nation of free, active, intelligent and intlustrious men. 
Nor have we made less progress in the sciences, in the arts or in manu- 
factures than in numl)ers or extent of territory. As we review the 
progress of the past, the mind fills with wonder and instinctively asks 
wdiat will be accomplished during the hundred years to come.? We 
claim to have given to the world railroads, steamboats, the cotton- 
gin, the power-loom, the sewing machine and the rapid printing 
press ; inventions that have changed the entire course of thought and 
action of the civilized world. Will the next hundred years produce 
an equal advance.? We almost tremble at the tliought that a propor- 
tionate advance is possible. 

This land promises to be a gathering of the nations. From every 
land, from every clime, there is pouring in upon us an ever-increas- 
ing tide of immigration. Shall we go on increasing in power and 
prosperity, or will the nation split into fragments, each part warring 
with the other.? What will be the tie that can l)ind together in one 
harmonious whole the multitudes that may gather here.? I answer, 
love of country, fostered by laws bearing with ecpial justice tow^artl all. 
Let the citizens of Rhode Island tlo all within their power to instill into 
the minds of their children a love of their country above all other 
earthly things, and especially to keep alive the great lessons taught us 
by the Revolution, by the enthusiastic celebration of this anniversary. 

SECOND REGULAR TOAST. 

TJic Judiciary of RJtodc Js/aud — The grand traditions of the ci- 
ders are nobly sustained l)y their successors. « 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 9I 

CHIEF JUSTICE DURFEe's ADDRESS. 

J//'. President : — 

I confess that 1 have experienced some solicitude since I learned 
that you were j^oing to call on me to answer for the judiciary, to know 
how I could bring the judiciary into any suitable relation to an oc- 
casion of festivity, and I confess that hitherto I have pondered the 
problem in vain. It did occur to me that perhaps the judiciary might 
l)e used, as it is said a skeleton was used at ancient feasts, to give a 
finer flavor to enjoyment by the suggestion of its opposite ; but the 
thought is evidently too far-fetched to be accepted. It also occurred 
to me that in the okl Colonial time, for more than eighty years, from 
1663 to 1747, the highest Court of the State held its sessions exclu- 
sively at Newport, antl litigants from all c[uarters, willing or unwill- 
ing, bail to c(jme flocking here for their semi-annual sup]:)lies of jus- 
tice, and that, inasmuch as our Supreme Court is the successor of the 
earlier tribunal, it might be expected of me, on an occasion when so 
many fresher and more fragrant memories spontaneously suggest 
themselves, that I would revive the curious forensic history of that 
primitive period. But the thought is inadmissable ; for who would 
care to regale himself on the mouldy crumbs of antiquarianism at so 
brilliant a festival as this ? And then a thought occurred to me, which, 
I confess, rather alarmed me, for it occurred to me, that the man who 
shoidd imtlertake to answer for the judiciary might have a good ileal 
to answer for. My friend, the late Judge Potter, used to say in I'e- 
gard to one part of cnu' jurisdiction, that the judge who granted a di- 
vorce was pretty sure to make at least two people happy and possil)ly 
four. But such a profusion of felicity is not the usual result of a ju- 
dicial decision. Generally a judge cannot gratify one party \\ithout 
disappointing the other, and since disappointment is far keener and 
more durable than delight, I am afraitl that if I had to answer for 
the judiciary to my friends who have lost, as well as to those who 
ha\e won their causes, I might find myself in a very sorry bus- 
iness, most immeet for the day. I am sure you do not want to en- 
gage me in it. Another thought, however, has come to me. which, if 
not appropriate, is at least, it seems to me, not inappropriate to this 
or any time. The judiciary is the balance wheel in the mechanism of 
the .State. Its action, noiseless but incessant, keeps the other jiarts in 
harmony. It is destitute of the pomp and trappings which captivate 
the many, but nevertheless it is the most beneflcient of ci\il forces, 
for not only docs it maintain the supremacy of the State and enforce 



92 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



tlie law between partv and party, but continiiallv out of the common 
facts of private controversy, out of the selfish strife and strug^gle and 
tedious travail of litigation, it educes the s^eneral rules and maxims 
of order and justice and freedom and property, which are the very 
bulwarks and stepping-stones of civilization. The measure of its 
influence is to be sought not so much in the positive good which it ac- 
complishes, however great that may be, as in the possible evil which 
it prevents. Abolish it and you convert the State at once into a pan- 
demonium of unruly and ravenous passions. The Sons and Daughters 
of Newport owe it to the judiciary that they can meet here to-da}- in 
freedom and security. And therefore I venture to bespeak for it 
their reverential regard. The judges may be, indeed they needs 
must l)e, fallil)Ie and faulty men ; Init the institution is always august 
and venerable, for always in it the law, which is the formulated 
conscience of the State, finds its most vital and efficacious em- 
bodiment. 

Mr. President — I have said enough to the Sons and Daughters of 
Newport about the judiciar\'. I want to say a word more, however, 
for I want to congratulate them on their festival. I am not a son of 
Newport, l)ut I can understand with what pride and j^leasure the na- 
tive Newporter, elsewhere residing, returns to this happy home of 
his childfiood, to this charming City by the sea. I can imagine 
with what delight he wanders through its cjuaint and storied streets, 
remembering its e\entful history, or recalling its romantic traditions 
of In-gone beauty and cliivalry. I can follow him in fancy from 
place to place, along the wa}'s where Berkeley mused, and Channing 
meditated, and Perry fed his young heart on heroic dreams, still on- 
ward, tlirough that newer Newport so lavishly adorned l>y modern 
wealth and fashion, to the beetling Clifls, from which he can behold 
the blending beauty of sea and sk\' and listen to the m\sterious music 
of the billows. Fortunate the man or the woman whose \outh has 
been spent among such scenes, and doubly fortunate tlie\', wiio, re- 
\isiling them to-day, can liere re\iye their former associations, and, 
participating in this pleasant Re-Union, relVesli tlienisehes anew at 
the old fountains of feeling and affection. 

THIRD REGULAR TOAST. 

/h-otvu [niivcrsifv — The worthy crown of our educational insti- 
tutions. vSlie ins]-)ires to l)etter methods and highei- aims in our 
schools, an<l olVers the rew.uds of her tieasures of learning. 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 93 

PUKSIDENT ROBIXSON's SPEECH. 

This occasion has l^ecn announced. I hcHe\c, as a Re-Union of tlic 
Sons and Daughters of Newport. Brown Universit\-, or Rhode 
Ishnid Collegje, as it was first christened, was certainly l)orn at New- 
port, and is, tlierefore, one of the dau^^hters of sour l)eautiful City. 
I>ut slie was sent immediately at lier l)irth to he mused under the 
riu"al skies of the nei^^hhoring- town of Warren. When four years of 
a*j;e, the question was raised : sliall she he 1)r()u<;"ht home to he 
trained, or sent elsewhere? it was no easy question for the j^od- 
fathers of the cliild to answer. Lon<r and eai^erly did they discuss 
it. Faint echoes of their eager wortls still linj^er. It was twH) hun- 
dred and eiii,"hty pounds — not pounds avoirdupois, hut pounds sterl- 
ins;' — that turned the scale. Newport was willins^ to stake £4000 to 
start the child in life, and Proyidence was ready to stake t'4280, and 
this Newport child was taken forth to he reared to womanhood and 
to hecome the fair mother of children at Proyidence. And now, one 
hundred and fifteen years after the memorahle discussion referred to, 
when she was taken away at the tender age of four, Rhode Island Col- 
lege, re-christened Brovyn University, comes back, for the first time, 
so far as I know, to rejoice and to greet and be greeted in the place 
of her liiith. 

The time and the place of the birth of the Rhode Island College 
arc both of them note-worthy. Obserye the time. About thirty- 
three years had elapsed since the famous Dean Berkeley left Newport 
to return to England. For nearly three years the Dean had l)een 
here diligently incubating his idea, and a queer one it \yas, of estab- 
lishing a great college, a sort of Dul)lin Uniyersit\', at the island of 
I>ermu(la. one of a cluster of little low-hing islantls out in the Atlan- 
tic Ocean more than six hundred miles from the nearest point on our 
coast. But a college or a imiyersity was Berkeley's one absorbing 
thought. Doubtless it was a freciuent subject of remark in the Philo- 
sophical Society which he was instrumental in founding in this old 
tovvn of Newport.' When, therefore, Janies Manning, the first Presi- 
dent of the College, landing- at Newport, proposed the idea of a Rhode 
Island College, the leading citizens of Newport were all leady to en- 
tertain it and give it practical form. To the unconscious influence 
of iJerkeley was doubtless duv the readiness with w hich the project 
of a college was first received. It is \\ ith honest pride that Vale 
College preserves the generous tokens of the nol)le Dean's good will, 
and with not less reasoning Brown University cherishes his memory 



94 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

for liis good influence, however unintentional it may liave been, in 
preparing the way for itself to come into being. 

But the place of the birth of Brown University is no less worthy 
of note than the time. Rhode Island was the sole civilized spot on 
earth where perfect religious freedom then had existence. There at 
that time was not a college in America at which religious and eccle- 
siastical tests were not ajiplied to both students and professors. The 
founders of the College of Rhode Island \\ ere men who were not 
content to be merely tolerated by any body or anywhere. They de- 
manded as an inalienable right gi\en of God that conscience in all 
matters of religion should be absolutely free. That right Rhode 
Island had proclaimed to all the world, and was then maintaining 
ant! was resolved to maintain at anv hazard. A recognition of that 
right was distinctlv wrought into the College charter and in any act 
and year of the College has been most scrupulouslv maintained. 

It was a novel state of society that met Berkeley's eye when he 
landed here some hundred and iiftv years ago, and it is an amusing 
picture that he gives in one of his letters of what he saw. vSpecimens 
of every species of religious idiosvncrac\' then known among men 
had cf)ngregate(l here, and yet all were li\iiig in I'elations the most 
neighborh' and amicable. Practical recognition of the rights of con- 
science harmed nobody then, and throughout our land harms noliody 
now. Towards this practical recognition throughout the land Brown 
University has done its share of service. 

But Newport entertained at the beginning, and entertains to-daj', 
certain immediate personal relations to Brown University, and the 
first pupil of the college, and for more than three-quarters of a year 
its only pupil, was a Newport boy. That boy, tor many years after- 
wards a professor in the University of Pennsylvania, was the Rev. 
William Rogers. A descendant of his foumleil in Brown University 
the Newport Rogers Professorship of Chemistr}', the Rogers High 
School, of Newport, and also the Newpoil scholarship and the 
Rogers High School scholarship in Brown Uni\eisit\ . These are 
personal relations between the college and this City which we luay 
beliexc \yould neyer have existed had not Broxyn University lieen 
one of the daughters of Newport, and the\- are relations which it is 
fitting we should remember to-day. 

And the history of Brown lhuversit\ in the one luiiulred and 
t\yent\' \ears of existence — now one of the oldest of Ne\yport"s sur- 
yiving daughters — has been one of which no son of Newport need be 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 95 

;i.slianic(l. For the record of her sons in the councils of the nation 
there need l)e no blushing. The record oi' her sons — of her living 
sons — in oui" foremost institutions of learning, Ando\cr, Princeton, 
Vale and Harvard, in the courts and the pulpits of the country, tells 
its own stor\-. 

Brown I'niveisity cannot boast so large a faniil\- as sonic of her 
sisters in the neighboring States. But it is not alwa\s the largest 
households, you know, that are the l)est bred. l>rown is an anxious 
and a i:)rudent mother, .""^he cares much more about the character 
than the numl)er of her sons. She will tolerate no idlers among 
them, and the \icious, when found incorrigilile, she casts out. Iler 
tloors stand ever open that the worthy may enter. l)ut she cares to re- 
ceive and to retain none who cannot go out from her better fitted for 
the duties of life than when thev enter. 

FOURTH REGULAR TOAST. 

T//C Early History of Rhode Island — We owe a debt of grati- 
tude to the earnest devotion and loving care which has rescued so 
much of it from threatened ol)livion. 

iiox. WM. V. SI ip:fp^i eld's respoxse. 

If the importance of a State is to be determined b\- the acres em- 
braced within its territory, or even 1)\- the numlter (jf its people, 
Rhode Island is entitled to Init little consideration. But if associa- 
tion with historical events which tend to ameliorate the condition of 
the human family, and the achievements of its inhabitants go to make 
up the cliaracter and standing of a vSt ite, Rhode Island has a right 
to claim a place abreast of the foremost States of ancient or modem 
times. 

Henry \'III revolted against the See of Rome because the latter 
would not grant him an unjust divorce from Catharine ofArragon, 
and not because of any corruption of the Church of Rome. The 
King of England then set himself up to be Pope in his own empire. 
Edward VI more coveted the tide of ••defender of the faith" than 
any of his royalties. The masculine Elizabeth had her Parliament 
make revolt against the Church treason to the State. Christian- 
ity was Init a minor element in the ambitious contentions of the time 
about creeds. The Puritans revolted against the corruptions of the 
Church, but, unhappily, retained the idea of State control of the re- 
ligion of the people ; against this control the founders of Rhode 
Island protested. 



96 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

Anil Hutchinson, the wife of William Hutchinson, a dauj^hter of 
the Rev. John Mowbray, of London, and a grandniece of John Div- 
den, the poet, resided in Boston. She was a woman of intellectual 
vigor, of clear perceptions of theological distinctions, and of strong 
personal attractions. vShe had conceived that the Rev. John Cotton 
preached more strongly a covenant of grace than did the other minis- 
ters of Massachusetts, and evidently she moi'e favored the idea that 
sah'ation was to be obtained by grace than by works ; that men were 
to be judged liy what they were, rather than l^y what they did ; by 
their motives for action rather than by their acts. For the expression 
of this belief she was tried, condemned and exiled. Her l)rother-in- 
law, John Wheelwright, who had been the classmate in college of 
01i\er Cromwell, had espoused the dogmas of Mrs. Hutchins(jn, and 
he had been censui^ed. Men in Boston protested against the injustice 
of the sentence and the censure, and the protestants were exiled, and 
some of them became the founders of Rhode Island. Here these 
men abandoned the practices of all the past, rolled back the tide of 
tradition, and l^ohllv struck for the freedom of the soul from the con- 
trol of the State ; for the emancipation of mind and thought from 
the civil law. In this they earned the gratitude and approval of the 
human race, and anticipated the favoralile judgment of the world. 

The early settlers of Rhode Island were no less the founders of civil 
than of religious liberty. The founders of Rhode Island left Massa- 
chusetts imder the condemnation of unjust jutlgments, and the anath- 
emas of Massachusetts pulpits followed them into exile. Crom- 
well, when became mto power, applauded the conduct of the Colony 
which had driven our fathers out of Massachusetts. In Massachu- 
setts they had a royal Gtnernor, and no man could vote who had not 
been admitted to the Church. 

In Rhotle Island, inider the charter of 1643, they resolved that 
their govei^nment was Democratical, antl capitalized e^•ery letter in 
the word to gi\e emphasis to their expression, and they defined the 
term to mean that '' it was in tlie power of the body of the freemen 
orderly assembled, oi" the major part of them, to make or constitute 
just laws l)y which thev would be regulated, and to depute from 
among themselves such ministers as should see them faithfully exe- 
cuted l)etween man and man." 

It is not too much to sa\ that the body of laws framed iniiler this 
cliarter in i(')47i Nvere, at the time they \yere ailopted, far in achance 
of any code of civil laws then in force in Christendom. 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 97 

I have recently read a letter, written in 1659 by one of the early 
settlers of this Colony to the Governor of Massachnsetts, appealing 
to him to save the life of his wife, which, the cop\ist sa\s, after the 
lapse of two centnries is yet stained with the hnshand's tears. This 
letter sngg'csts some of the trials of the pioneer settlers of this Island, 
and has awakened in me an increasetl interest in their histtjry. 

The virtues are taught in a vSpartan school ; coarse fare and haril 
usage are necessary to the highest dexelopment of character. The 
f )unders of Rhode Island learned to practice self-reliance, and the 
love of liberty under the iron rule which controlled English non- 
conformists, and in the hard school of colonial Massachusetts. The 
cropping of ears, the three-ccjrd Hagellations, the imprisonment, the 
chains and banishments to which they were subjected, and the sub- 
sequent hanging of one of their number, were each a })art of the hard 
discipline to which thev were subjected, and out of which they 
evolved their ideas of the equality of men, and the e(jualit\' of what is 
now known as civil rights. 

It w:;s not Massachusetts alone that thus aided our fithers in de- 
veloping the great pi-inciples of human liberty and individual respon- 
sibilitN', but the colonies of Plymouth and Connecticut each contrib- 
uted in kind their share to this great result. 

The Puritans and Pilgrims, the schoolmasters of the settlers of 
Rhode Island, were pioneers in the cause of human liberty up to 
the settlement (jf the Rliode Island colony. Thev stood in the fore- 
ground of the ci\ ilization of the age in which the\ li\'ed. but they 
lived and walked in the dim light of the dawn of anotlier age, and 
fought \alianth' in defence of their own rights, and fought as val- 
iantly to suppress the rights of others. And when the great idea of 
the equality of the rights of men in the forum of conscience and law 
burst upon them, its effect was so o^■erpoyyering that they l)ecame 
possessed with the belief that they were its discoverers, and their de- 
scendants in a large measure hold to this fallacy. Notably they 
hold up the Boston tea party, and refer to Lexington and Concortl 
as initial points in the American Revolution, and appear never to 
have heard of the destruction of the Liberty and the Gaspee, and of 
taking of fort}' cannons from Fort George in the harbor of Newport 
from under the guns of the King's ships, by order of the Legislature 
of Rhode Island, for the defence of the rights of the people of the 
Colony against tlie power of the British Crown, live months l)efore 
April 19, 1775. 



98 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

The settlers of Rhode Island had scarcely plowed their first field 
when the}' began to prepare pipe staves to be sent to the West Indies. 
Commerce, thus began, expanded vnitil its canvas whitened every 
sea, and its commodities embraced the products of every clime ; a 
commerce which they eventually offered up as a sacrifice upon the 
altar of their country. Their descendants followed the fortunes of 
their countrymen over the American possessions to take part in every 
battlefield, and shared with them the toil, hardships, and sutlerings 
of every campaign. In science, art, and useful industry, they have 
kept pace with other peoples. Claggett, Waterhouse, Feke, vStuart, 
Malbone, Allstone and Staigg, representatives of science and the 
arts. Admirals Wager and the two Brentons were given to the Brit- 
ish navy, and Fones and Perr}- to our own navy, for the character of 
Perry was formed in Newport, though he was born elsewhere. 
Hopkins, Stiles, Channing, and Brooks were identified w4th New- 
port and here did much for the philosophy and literature of their 
country. 

Now, it remains for the present and future generations, with their 
increased advantages, to see that no shame comes to the past, tc; do 
their part to cany forward the work of civilization and advancement 
of the human race in the foreground of the march of nations and 
states towards a perfect felicity. 

The following poetic contribution from Mrs. Julia Ward 
Howe, welcoming back the Sons and Daughters, was then 
read by the Secretar}^ : 

A SONG FOR Newport's festu'al, july 4, 1884. 

Our city's the fairest, 

Our city's the dearest, 
Enthroned by the sapphire-blue sea; 

Sfie whispers, " Come hither!" 
, We answer, "Yes, mither. 

We hasten, sweet mother, to thee." 

Like the tramp of a cohnnn, 

The billows so solemn 
Tfieir phalanx unfold on her sa!id ; 

She holds the smooth beaches 

And soft sylvan reaches 
In calm, with the touch of her hand. 

The days are well o\er 
When pirate and rover 
Were mentioned in whispers of fear; 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 99 

A squadron more splendid 
Then ever attended 
Their venturous ways, anchors here. 

The brij^ht Hags are floating, 

The gav crews are boating, 
The silver sail swells at the mast; 

To one rhythmic measure 

Of magical pleasure. 
The winds and the waters dance past. 

Oh ! jou who are fretted, 

Neglected or petted 
In fashion, or business, or school, 

Come, weather-worn legion, 

From many a region 
Of heat, to the home of the cool. 

Her children may wander, 

But dearer and fonder 
To them grows her haven of rest, 

Where, with dutiful greeting, 

And thanks for this meeting. 
We'll name her the brightest and best. 

FIFTH RE(JULAR TOAST. 

Our Returned Child re)2 from Nezv 7~ork — \\'e feel prouder of 
the great Empire State because they are a part of its greatness and 
glory. 

REPLY BY MR. PHH.ANDER SHAW, OF BROOKLYN. 

j\[r. Toastniaster, and Ladies and Gcutlenioi : — I rise to speak 
to the toast whicli has just been pro]X).sed, with mingled feelings of 
honor and diffidence ; of honor, at being chosen spokesman for the 
elder sons of the Rhode Island delegation from New York and 
Brooklyn ; of diiHdence, because I am unequal to do justice to this 
august and interesting occasion. 

But you will scarcely expect me to do much more, which I did not 
feel at lil:)erty to decline to do under the circumstances, than to giye ex- 
pression for those in whose behalf I speak, as also for myself, to our 
gratitude for your courteous and cordial reception and entertain- 
ment — but who would expect anjthing less in Newport.'' 

Without becoming egotistical, allow me to .say that I feel as one 
of the elder Sons of Rhode Island \\-\\o ha\ e left their native place — 
that an absence of all but fifty years has not lessened my regard, nor 
abated my interest in it and its prosperity. 

That instinct of the human heart which attaches one so strongly to 



lOO THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

one's native place, an instinct pecnliarly human, is strongly illustra- 
ted, I venture to think, in Newport, and in its citizens, vsdio have gone 
forth to other places to push their fortunes, and to take part in the 
struggles and the success of business life ; and I am happy to say that 
as far as my observation has extended the sons of Newport, who are 
scattered all over the country, but more particularly in our large 
business centres, have reflected honor on their native City, many of 
them occupying distinguished and important positions in some of 
oiu" largest banking, insurance, railroad, and other corporations of a 
professional, financial, and mercantile character, some of whom you 
will have the pleasure of listening to during the course of these exer- 
cises. Newport has numbered with her sons, also, some others, who, 
though not to the manor born, sought the Ijeauties of tliis place for 
a temporary residence. From the many illustrious ornaments of the 
various professions, let me name Hopkins, .Stiles, Channing, and 
Berkeley in di\ inity ; and I must not forget the lamented poet-preacher, 
the late Charles T. Brooks, who was the poet of the Re-Union of 1S59 ' 
Ellerv, Hunter, Robbins, and Pearce in statesmanship ; Hazard, Ran- 
dolph, and others in law ; Oliver H. Perry, in the navy, and of Lake 
Erie renown ; Malbone, King, Allston, and, in later years, Staigg, 
in art ; of ever blessed memory, the late Dr. David King, who took 
such a deep interest in the Re-Union festi\ities twenty-five years 
a<'"o, and the late venerable Dr. Cotton, in medicine and surger}' ; 
Channing, Gibbs, Touro, Lopez, Northam, and hundreds of others 
in mercantile lite. 

The present generation of Newport's sons have delighted to return 
to do their native City honor, and are proud to be honored liy her. 
I need not attempt to discuss the importance^commercial, literary, 
or social — of Newport in the earlier days of our country, nor speak 
of her unique position. There are those \\h() will follow me, who 
will i:)rol)ably do that better and more fully than can L Butcertainly 
among the many attractions and advantages of the past and the 
present, jjhysical, material, and social, I ought not to forget to notice 
what has always been a notable charm of the place. I mean its 
refined and elegant society — its cultivated and chaiming women. I 
mi""ht, with some degree of pride, refer to the progress and improve- 
ments which have marked Newport's history within the last score of 
years, but to do so would lead me into taxing your time and patience 
too tar, and therefore I conclude with renewed acknowledgments of 
our sincere appreciation (A' your kindness and courteous attentions, 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. lOI 

and our best wishes for the prosperity and ad\ancement of our dearly 
loved native Citv. 

ADDRESS BY MR. W. G. I'ECKIIAM. OF XEW YORK. 

J/}'. CJiaii-}}7au, Ladies and Gciitloiicii^ ScJioohiiates a//d Swcet- 
Ji carts : — 

I was deputed to ex|:)ress the sentiments of the \oun^er delejj^ates 
from New York. Did the\- not themselves tell } on their sentiments, 
lictter than I can, on many occasions when you and the\- were school- 
mates and sweethearts? They still feel the same wav thev told vou of 
formei"ly, ladies. Nothing that has passed has made anv change in 
their real feelings. 

Air. Chairman, when Prince Chailie led his clans to Edinl)oro 
town, over the red heather and the moor, the l)ag-pipes screamed the 
tune, "The King has come to his own again." Thanks to your 
ro\al welcome, something of that tune is plaving in e\erv heart to- 
day. We of New Vork bring you Eastons, Turners, Lawtons, iJuIls, 
Van Zandts, and Coddingtons, Governors, heretofore, of this colonv ; 
Perrys, Thurstons, Finches, Engses, Coggeshalls, Ilammetts, Shaws, 
and Hazards. 

We have here with us, primeval Puritans, (juaint C^iakers, solid 
yeoman stock, such substitutes for Princes as were ever in this prin- 
cipalitv- To vour music thev are all marching home to their own 
again. They are Old Port and you are Newport. Old Port is all 
over the world. Its children are wanderers, for here we ha\e no 
continuing city. One searches all historv for a like, and finds a par- 
allel onlv in the wandering from Troy and the IIolv Land, and if 
you please, from Ireland. 

vSince the great wars left Newport tlismantled. and commerce 
failed, our \'outh ha\e had to seek fortunes in strange places. 
"Exiled by fate," the\' have been driven out as was the amiable 
-^'Eneas with Anchises and the other senior relatives on their shoul- 
ders, and the voung Juliuses in their arms, and the Palladium in 
their hearts. 

As the son of Israel in his svnagogue vonder turns him everv .Sab- 
bath towards Jerusalem, so be sure that vour wanderers, early and 
late, bend their lieads and tlieir hearts toward the Palestine of child- 
hood, and sa\ . as solenmh' as Judge Ward sa\s it on the balcon\', 
on T^ection l)a\-. "(jod save the vState of Rhode Island!" What 
wanderers thev 1)ecome I Vou meet them, as 1 ha\ e met some who 
are here, on the Cascine at Florence, on the old John Balch in Ha- 



I02 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

vana, where Captain Ben. Melville gave ns a great dinner, in Peru, 
and in Ultima Thule. 

Two gentlemen, now with tlie saints, we trust, once met, at the fish 
market here, on a spring morning. '• Christopher," said one, "how 
runs that inscription on the gates at Thebes?" And then they had a 
disputation on the hook authorities, and bought tlieir lobsters, and 
Mr. Townscnd saiil he would set his friend right on that. Simimer 
came and went with its fashion and aimlessness. In vSeptember they 
met again at Lawton's on Long Wharf. " Ah ha. Brooks," said the 
w^anderer with a purpose, "• I have been to Thebes, and looked that 
up, and I was right." Mr. Townsend had added to his usual sum- 
mer trip for silks, a sally through Lower Egypt, after the manner of 
Lord Wolseley. The only loot he sought was spoils of time, and a 
bloodless victory over scholar Brooks. But always your wanderers 
are like the Spanish gallant who only loved Madrid, but had to live 
at Segoria : — 

His bod} Liv in Segoria : 
His soul was in Madrid. 

Mr. Chairman, in the ancient timber I tell vou of, in the good 
names represented in our delegation to-day, there was sound old 
stock. There are those who combine a dozen of those strains in one 
person. Never mind the fact that Newport furnishes New York 
with its bankers and merchants. \\v have had comrades of a higher 
quality than what people bow to on yon avenue. From the time 
the youth '"l)egan to riden out" as Chaucer says, " thev learned to 
loven chevalrie." Let old men tell you of Peny and Greene. Tell 
your boys, too, of Cottrell and Wheaton King and Hazard Stevens, 
30ur schoolmates ; how \\ hen the torpedo struck his monitor in the 
storming of Mol)ile, Lieutenant Gardie Cottrell led his men to their 
places l)elovv deck and reported to his commander : '' We are at our 
station, sir." And Farragut took our second Perrv from the waters 
after the ship sank and brought him back to life and kej^t him bv 
him till peace came. Tell how Hazard Stevens, suspended from 
our college because of just such a lark as he is carrying on over there 
at this moment with the Boston delegation, became the voungest 
general in the great army and received glorious w-ounds at Chancel- 
lorsville beside a dying father and another relative who died on that 
field, and gained the ininiortalitv in vSheridan's raid that is set down 
in his (jcneral's despatch to Lincoln. 

When the Hazards take a coat-of-arms, as I have suspected they 
will, tor his sake and his father's sake, tliey ma\- put on it '• Hazard 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. IO3 

all ibr Nati\c Land." Let the Historical Society record these names 
and those of your lirave comrades of the First Rhode Island, Mr. 
Chairman, beside the names of men of epochs when brave men were 
not as common as thev were anions^" onr schoolmates. This narrow 
Island has been rich in original and strong characters. In school 
days somebody likened it to the mythical tar away Island of the Blest, 
and in 1)on ish fanc\' wrote : — 

They tell of Islands of the Blest 
Below the setting sun ; 

Beyond the restless seas ;i i-est, 
When honored death is won. 

We think it true, the legend sweet, 

That spirits there may come, 
A.nd young again together meet. 

Again in Island Home. 

You entertain us well, JVIr. Chairman, l)ut the IJostou street boy 
told the ladies who i)ro\i(led cakes and chicken sandwiches and ice 
cream and lemonade, that to his mind, no picnic was a picnic with- 
out molasses and, above all. baked beans. Let us suggest something 
for the next re-union. Please substitute for the distinguished citizens 
who received us so kindlv, a committee that will make us boys again. 
Appoint a committee that has not the faidt of growing old. Give us 
back General John Joe and (Jer)rge Boss and Dan Isarnum and Afri- 
can Richard and Jeremy Locke, the ever young friends of this ilele- 
gation, and Miss vSukev Stratton and Miss Betsey Coddington and 
Miss Pollv Tilley, paragons of female sweetness in our memory. 
Enact a law that we may on arrival, conformably to the statutes and 
o-Qod morals, bathe otu- souls again, no more in Castalia, but in the 
cove and in the ship\ard, where (iardie Cottrell swam with us, and 
in the classic creek l)evond the l)each, and let us l)e clad again only 
in our youth. Bring us not old wine, but place casks of Porto Rico 
on the dock, with sticks instead of beakers. That was nectar, and 
shall be oiu" l)alm of youth. Then come, you eminent_di\ines, and 
physicians of the body also, and weary barristers, and fathers of the 
town, come wade with us again for lilies and sweet flags in the pond 
t)iit of the window there. And as the e\ening falls join with us in 
another game of" lee storks" and " hare and hoinids" around the 
Island. All this is only left for our children, more is the pity. The 
dav is falling the oilier way for us. But when life is a tale that is 
told and love is a lune that is played, still our children's children will 
lauirh l)ack to the waves on the beaches, still the dark sea storms will 



I04 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



ride clown upon the earth and as from the beginning the sun ai 
will brighten these plc:is;int lands and \v:it">--. 




The Toastmaster in presenting the next speaker, spoke 
pleasantl}' of sitting in the morning under the trees on the 
Parade planted by a good man, Governor Lawton, whom he 
well remembered. He said he had no doubt but what it 
would give pleasure to all present to welcome a representative 
of that old and respected name, and he therefore called upon 
Mr. Francis Lawton, of New York. 

MK. i.awton's remai;ks. 

It is with deep feeling that 1 address, after so long a residence in 
other scenes, a Newport audience ; an audience of people of this 
City endeared to nie by so many remembrances of good and honored 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. IO5 

men, sucli as lie of wlioin your Chainnan lias so kiiicUy spoken. I 
hatl inteiuled to be but an observer to-day, but now cannot resist the 
disposition to speak face to face with the many old friends I see around 
me, and also to ,^reet many others, sons and (lau<;liters of parents whom 
I once knew, and whose children I would also wish to hail as friends. 

1 heard one man tell another not loni;- since, that his mother was a 
nice woman. " I hope so, " was tlie rei)ly, " she is the only one I 
ever had and I must make the best of iier." vSo it is of a l)irtliplace 
and childhood's home ; Ik- it what and where it may, there is no place 
like it. And our home is certainly a beautiful one, hallowed too by 
pleasantest memories. There are no homes like those of our old 
New Eno^and towns. 1 was pleased to learn not lon^" since that 
John Howard Payne, who wrote that famous song, "Home Sweet 
ilome," which I have been expectiiii^- every speaker to mention, grew 
up in a pleasant villa<;e on the east end of Long Islaiub in a green 
island hcniie, sea washed like our own — and where it is stated many 
old Xew England families had settled. There, as a child, in the beau- 
tiful scenes and among the kind hearted people of our coast, he imbibed 
those ideals of home which when he uttered them in simple rhyme 
captixated the world. 

To such sweet homes as he knew many of us return to-day, some to 
find a welcome as pleasant as any memory can recall ; others, alas! 
to sadlv visit homes where the hearthstones are cold. 

The poet says, 

Be it ever so lunnble, there's no place like home. 
Newport is not humble, for in the old days as in the new our l)eauti- 
ful Island was sought by the children of men. I lere before the white 
men came the great chiefs of the Narragansett set up their throne 
and presided on Tammany Hill ; and when Roger Williams, the Hrst 
speculator in Newport real estate, came down and bought the whole 
Island for ten coats, twenty hoes, and a string of wampum, and 
started house lots at two shillings each, the white settlers came and 
bought them. And the old town began to grow, and, as the centu- 
ries passed over it, grew on and became famous. And now, when 
house lots sell for sometimes a hundred thousand dollars. Newport 
is the name for gayety and pleasure all over the world, and our old 
town has become the great summer resort of the nation, whither 
come prosperous and gay visitors from all the world. 

But the first owners were the Pokamokets under Ousametiuin. 
Then by political methods it passed to the original sachem of Tam- 
many, and finally to the white men. Tammany forsook his seat at 



I06 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

JNIiantonoini Hill, went to New York, took possession ot' M;ml);itt;in 
Island, and to-day the Taninian\- l)ia\es are on the way to Washington 
to captmx' tlie central wigwam of the nation. 1 am snrprised that no 
one has mentioned Roger Williams. You are well aware that the 
roots of a tree spread over his skeleton, cxen to tlie ends of his finger 
hones. vSo Roger hiinself has spread over and penetrated the utter- 
most parts of Rhode Island historw 

We find our old Cit>' much ch.anged and changed for the better. 
Some of us, no douht, would like to find it as we left it twenty \ears 
ago — not because things were better then, but just for the old times 
sakes. But it grows less and less the quiet okl Puritan to\yn and 
more and more the splendid watering place. 

Xew]:)ort is changing and will change. Innovation has Inought 
improvements, and it is to be hoped that the evil of narrow minded- 
ness, charged in the old times against Newport, may be eradicated, 
and that the energetic and liberal polic\' of the City government ma\- 
be supported by the people, so that our beautiful Island in the future 
may proceed untrammelled by ancient prejudice, and realize what 
Garfield called the true American itleal, the greatest good to the 
greatest number. 

SIXTH KEGUI,AR TOAST. 

()///' So//s and JJaiigl/tcrs fro/i/ Jiostoii — They illustrate tlie 
nobility, virtue and grace yvhich they acquired in their early home, 
and thereby, perhaps, retain the centre of the universe where Dr. 
Holmes discovered it. 

RESPONSE BY REV. SOLON HUSH, OF BOSTON. 

Mr. l^resident : — 

It gives me pleasure to respond in behalf of Newport's Sons and 
Daughters from and near Boston. We come to this famil\- festi\al 
at the invitation of our mother, and, as loving children, would lav at 
her feet the tribute of oiu" gratitude for what she is and what she has 
done for us. Looking into each other's faces and joining in the fes- 
tivities of this banquet, we would blend memory and hope. Recall- 
ing the past, we now bring before us the earl\' intluences with ^\ hich 
we were surrounded, and are grateful tor the sacred recollections 
that cluster aroimd our Newpoit hearthstones. Boston, Air. Pres- 
ident, is proud of her ])ret'minence as the metropolis of New England. 
Her adopted sons from Newport share in this pride, and have helped 
her in her prosperity. The delegation \\ Inch are here to-day repre- 
sent almost every calling in life, and ha\ e (I<Mie their best toward the 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 



107 



growth ;iiul pr<)sj)crit\()r the citv of their adoption. Here Mr. Biisli 
made a sketcli of the way in whicli the nienil)ers of the deleg-ation 
did this, and mentioned hy name those present who were representa- 
tives of the various caUin^s and professions. He then passed to 
some reminiscences of Nev\port when lie was a l)oy. v\iiich was the 
period of transition between the old Newport of colonial times and 
the new Xewjiort of to-daw He recalled the hrilliant features of 
social life and intellectual culture w hich marked the earlier period, 
making- allusions to Washin^^ton .VUslon. who, though not a native. 
recei\ed his earl\' education tVom Mi', l^ogers at Xe\\]:)ort. also ol 
Malhone. of whom Allston said --he had the happy laculty of de- 
lineatiuL;- the character without impairinj^; the likeness," and •' that 
no woman lost hc-autx at his hands." So Gilbert Stuart whose 
i^vnius as a portrait painter, though not born here, was so associated 
bv his residence and lal)ors as to be in reality a \ew[)orter. Air. 
Channinq-, he said, was l)orn and bred in Newport. He bears wit- 
ness to the influences which the beautiful scenery of his native town — 
'•'of nature's ekxiuence of w intls and \\a\es" — had in the loim- 
atiou of his character. IIow he was first taujijht in our schools, and 
•gained knowled<4e throuo^h the Redwood Library, and was inspired 
with a lo\e of truth by the precepts and example of Hopkins. 
Channing retained to the last his attachment for his native town. 
Newport was the jov of his heart. So, w hat of honor and world- 
wide esteem he oained throuL,di his life, lal)ors and character, an; 
shared alike liy l>oston and Newport. 

vSo we, the Boston Sons and nauj.i;hters of Newj^ort, while we cher- 
ish a ))ride in the citv of our later residence, and share in her honor 
and i:)ros]U'ritv, still keep alive the lo\e of Newport. Our native 
town. too. is rich in her local annals. The name of James I'ranklin 
and the Newport Mercury leaches back to the early hist(n-y of the 
American press. It was on xonder hill, overlooking- the sea in its 
varied beauty and grandeur, that Berkeley mused and wrote his 
renowned work, "The Minute Philosopher." It was in tlie meeting- 
house on Mill Street that Dr. Hopkins preached, of whom the poet 
Whittier sa\s : -'There are few instances on record of moial heroism 
superior to that of Samuel llc^pkins." 

I remember Mr. Wheaton, who in Trinity Church, so dear in its 
memories of olden times, served his long and faithful ministiy. 
.Some of \(iu here to-da\ , who have passed the line of (illy, remem- 
ber the good Parson luldv and Mr. Gammell, and Dr. Patten. 'I'hese 
impressed a generation by their preaching, and bv' their lives left the 



I08 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

fragrance of (le\()te(l service ami sincere pietv. Ami the well-known 
school teachers in onr dav, Mr. Tower, and Ivlr. Joslin and Mr. 
Trevett, who in time before om" ]:)nhlic schools became so efficient, 
labored so loni;- and imtiringlv. and the law\ers, Mr. Hazard and Mr. 
Randolph, the latter a father of judge Randolph — these were promi- 
nent at the bar and in public service. And the well-known ]:)hv- 
sicians, D)"s. Kin<^ and Tiu'ner, who left representatives of their tidelit\' 
and skill in their sons, who adopted the profession of their fathers. 
Dr. King", after a long and successful career, died within a few years, 
while the junior Dr. Turner, who is present with us to-day, is still a 
physician in your homes. 

I'jut I must pause in my reminiscences, lest I weary your patience 
though many and other names are worthy of mention, those who in 
the \arious walks of life ha\e helped to make Newport what she is 
to-da\-, the pride and glory of her Sons and Daughters. 

Mr. President, I will close by re})eating the love and gratitude 
which the Boston .Sons and Daughters feel for the place of their birth. 
As we come to old hearthstones and join in the various festivities of 
the dav, we bring oiu" heart's best lo\'e for the mother who ga\'e us 
birth, and nurtured us in our cliildhood. AVHierever we go ^\•e shall 
keep ali\e our early affections for this town. Alike with you \\ ho 
remain we will cherish a common interest in the luster, and share in 
the associations and memories of our birtli])lace. (iod l)less New- 
port. The lioston .Sons and Daughters join with l)ot]i those at 
home and abroad in the most cordial wishes tor Jier future i:)i-osperity. 

The roll()\viii«^ poem, composed by Mrs. Clara P. I3oss, of 
Boston, was then read by that lady. 

RK-IINION OF THE SONS AND DAl^CiTITERS OF NEWTOIiT, 
JULY 4, 1SS4. 

' A summons came in tlie leafy May 

From oiu- home beside the sea, 
Entreatinfj^ its truant children, 

Wherever we miylit l)e, 
To conu'. t()i- a while, to our home, 

Jjeneath the old root-tree. 

We had i^rown wrinkled, old and ,i;i"ay, 

And our mother's \()iee lor^ol. 
Bui it soimded just as lo\ ini^ly 

As when these _\c'ars were not, 
Antl we lelt a tuy-^iuL;' at the heart 

Towards Die dear old sjiol. 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. IO9 

What \isioiis llcw across our tliou<i,ht ! 

Wc heard the sounchiiiic sea; 
We felt again on our tinie-browiied elieeks 

The west wind blo\vin<^ free, 
And it blew the years 'twixt us and home 

Into eternit\' ! 

We were laughing children once again. 

Treading the narrow streets ; 
Again we were lingering lovers 

In shady lanes so sweet, 
And the nienior\ of da\ s long dead 

Made our tard\- pidses beat. 

Each old house bore the face of a friend 

Unto our loving thought. 
And ev'rj stone in the time-worn jiave 

A fond remembrance lirought, 
While the }>ride of man and womanhood 

With childish weakness fought. 

So we said :— " We'll go to our mother — 

We have stayed away too long ! 
We'll listen again to the surf-beat. 

It was our cradle song; 
And we know it better, better far 

Than anj- since-learned tongue. 

We'll let its vf)icc of infinite calm 

Unto our unrest speak ; 
We will feel the touch of the sea-fog damp 

Brushing against our cheek : 
And we'll show our tender mother that 

Our love has ne'er grown weak." 

So we have come to that mother's arms 

To have our heart-wounds kissed ; 
To tell to her faithful ear the tale 

Of all the jo_\s we've missed : 
To keep, in tliis golden time of year. 

Our chikihood's lo\al tr\st. 

Where are the l)o\ s b\ whose side we fought 

In many a school-da\- rout.' 
Where are the girls b_\' whose side we walkcil 

When shining stars were out.'' 
O, where are the hojies for \ears to come 

We so fondl_\- talked about.'' 

In fair, green fields, where graves are made. 

Beneath the summer sun. 
Many we loved are lyiii"' low, 



no THE NEWPORT RE-UNION, 

Willi life and luipc all clone. 
Ami I'ar in the peat'o of the hea\ enl\- land 
The\'\e full iVuition won. 

Some have brought honor and deathless tame 

To lay at the mother's feet: 
Some ha\ e crept hither with broken li\e.s, 

Her happier sons to meet. 
To all she stretches her broad-jialmed hanils 

With ecpial lo\-e to greet. 

The perfect arch of her summer heaxen 

Is bent above our heail. 
The velvet sjiring of her fragrant turf 

Makes for wearied limbs a bed, 
And in the ^\■a^•s of our childhf)od 

Our willing feet do tread. 

"The kingdom of God is as a child." 

And we're nearer it to-da\-. 
Because, like tiaiants, we'xe come again 

At our mother's knee to pra\'. 
And till we enter its shining gates 

We'll not forget this da_\ I 

SEVENTH HEGULAR TOAST. 

O/tr (I/ildroi J-^roni Ncxv licdfnrd — I'hcv arc al\va\s near 
enough to their old home to breathe their nati\e loos, and hence 
readily retain the simplicity and purity which the}' inhaled with 
their eai'liest lireath. 

The New' Bedford delegation had selected as their orator 
the venerable Beniamin Pitman, who liad reached the <rreat 
age of 84 years. He came to the Re-Union, but was unable 
to ])e present at the tent. He tlierefor requested Mr. Thoiuas 
Coggcshall. of tiiis Cit}', to read tlie reply wliich lie had pre- 
pared. 

Mr. Coggeshall prefaced the reading of Mr. Pitman's 
response with a tew approj-)riate words. 

MK. IIIOMAS COCJOKSnAIT.'s REMARKS. 

To have l)een honored by the preference of mv excellent and life- 
lon;4- iViend, Henjamin Pitman, to speak for him this da\-, demands 
of me to tm'n back a leaf of m\' book of life. 

iJy an alfectionate uncle and aunt, a waxward lad was taken 
iVom his home in Newport. fort\-ti\e \ears since, to Xew IJedf )rd, 
there to leceive educational ad\antaoes. f)r there was no Hiiih v'^cIkxjI 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. Ill 

then in Newport, and the influences of a people busy in commerce 
and alive to pro^Tcssive citizenship. I nder the roof of Benjamin 
Pitman, two of llie four \ears were passed. His influence was help- 
ful in unxeilinu^ the shams of societ\', the value of integ^rity and the 
sine reward of intellii^ent industrv. His son, now an upri<j^ht juch^e 
of Massachusetts, the IIonoraI)le Robert Carter Pitman, was pre- 
ciously helpful to me. lie Hrst awakened me to the horrors of human 
bondage, as illustrated in our Southern States, even then prophesying 
the peril to tlie .South, if an attem])t were matle to extend the s\stem. 
From his hand 1 recei\ed that poem of the humane English poet, 
Cowper, '* The Task," wherein are picturetl the enormities of luuiian 
slavery. His outspoken convictions in matters of liberal religion, 
temperance, lunrian shnery and true citizcnshij), thrilled me in those 
days, nor ha^•e I lessened m\ intense regard for the father or son. 
W'ould that Judge Pitman, born in this City, were here to-day, 
with licpiid utterance, to re;id his father's poem. 

The Pitmans have been ielentifled with Rhode Island. Ne\v|)ort 
particularh', irom its early history, occupying exalted antl honorai)le 
})ositions, tlieir distinguishing characteristics being integrity, intelli- 
gence and indi\ iduality. 

In this presence, where sit and stand so many residents of New 
Bedford, allow me to ofler my profound gratituile to loving relatives, 
devoted iriends and its citizens, for that protecting care in my}'outh, 
that better fltted me for the numerous responsibilities genertjusly 
bestowetl upon me In the citizens of Newport. 

. MR. BENJAMIN PITMAx's KKSPONSE. 

Of the incidents of m\ life, none seemed more strange to me than that 
I on whose head tlie snows of eightv-foiu^ winters have fallen, should 
ha\e been selected on l)ehalf of the Sons and Daughters of Newport, 
now d\yelling in your sister city of New Bedford, to respond to your 
most kindly greeting and words of generous welcome. 

In the performance of this most unexpected and reluctantly-assumed 
dutv. I had prepared some leniarks which were, perhaps, appro- 
piiate to the occasion and res]5ectfid to my fellow citizens wiio had 
thus honored me. but ha\ing done so 1 rememl)ered the atlmonition, 
•• be short, " so necessary to the aged and so proper to all on this 
occasion, and thrust them all aside, doubtless to \our relief. 

In lien of any extended remarks, sufler me to give you a few sim- 
ple lines — lines which 1 hatl penned a quarter of a century ago, in 
view of an occasion similar to the present one, but never oilered. If 



112 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

they ever possessed anything that is the spontaneons outburst of 
nature's feeling and in sympathy with the tine emotions of the heart, 
1 trust the tide of years has not obliterated or diminished it. I offer 
them fresh to you, as they are fresh in my own soul this day : 

A voice comes over flood and field, "come back, my children, come; 

Come to vour mother's arms again, come to your childhood's home. 

Oh, long have been the weary days since first you left my hearth : 

Come home, my children, come again, come to your place of birth. 

Long have I listened, oh, how long, to hear your steps once more, 

To hear the music of your voice, to meet you at the door; 

Long have ye left me, oh, my sons, my daughters, oh, how long! 

But I have never yet forgot your prattle and your song. " 

It is our mother's voice we hear, which o'er the hills and waters 

Is calling from a mother's heart to absent sons and daughters. 

We hear that gentle voice again we heard when life was young, 

The voice that mingles in our play and by our cradle sung. 

We hasten at our mother's call, where'er our path hath lain. 

To gather round her ample board, and by that hearth again 

To feel her smile upon our hearts, and catch that mild blue light 

Which, ever beaming in her eyes, first met our infant sight. 

Oh, mother, mother dear, we come; we come, but oh, not all! 

For loved ones, dear as life, there are, who cannot hear your call ; 

They sleep on many a distant shore, on many a desert strand. 

Or mid the hills and valleys green of our loved native land. 

You sent them tbrth in youthful hope, and warm in beauty's glow, 

A noble bearing in their mien and manhood on their brow; 

You'll miss them while you welcome back your children as they come. 

And tears will mingle with your smiles for many an absent one. 

We'll think of those loved absent ones, and silent tears we'll shed. 

As sad, in accents low, we speak of those, oiu- early dead; 

We'll not forget them where they lie, but think they, too, have come. 

To mingle as in days lang syne at their dear Island Home. 

In a few brief hours. Mr. Mayor, we must part, many of us tt) 
meet no more ; the pleasant associations by which we are here siu"- 
rounded. will be broken, and exist only in memory as do some of the 
dreams of our childhood. Before bidding \()u farewell, 1 would 
utter from m\- lips what is in m\' heart, the hope that 

When the dreams of" life are tied, 
When the wasted lamps are dead. 
When in cold oblivion's shade, 
Beauty, health and fame are laid, 
Where immortal spirits reign. 
There we all may meet again. 

1 bid \'ou, kind sir, and all, an aflectionate farewell. 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. II3 



EKJIITH RliCJULAR TOAST 



Our Sons and Daughters from Prov/do/cc — Wc count on 
tlicii" devotion to tlieir native Cit\ . iicvcr^ never to allow 'Lection 
to be taken from us. 

MR. FREEBORN COGGESIIAEl's REPLY. 

In l)ehalt' of the Sons and Daughters of Provitlence and \icinit\., 
I have the pleasure of responding to the generous sentiment expressed 
1)V you, sir, on this occasion. And, sir, we would ask vour Mayor, 
the City Council, and the people of Newport, to accept of our heart- 
felt thanks for the very generous spirit displayed by them in inviting 
the Sons and Daughters of this City to partake with them of this 
feast. But sir, with all the pleasures of this day, there comes a 
sadness as we miss the familiar faces we met here twenty-five years 
ago, and the warm grasp of the hands that then welcomed us to our 
native isle. However, there is in all the world no place like New- 
port, and the time is soon coming when the whole Island of Rhode 
Island shall be the garden spot of America. Everywhere, all over 
the country, in every calling and profession, are Newport boys. God 
bless old Newport, a nursery for the whole country and the world. 

The following letter was read from Mayor Doyle : 

City of Providence, Executive Department, ) 

City Hall, June 30, 1S84. j 

F. G. Harris, Secretary, etc. 
Dear Sir : — 

Your esteemed favor (jf June 13th instant, was received in tlue 
course of mail. I beg to return my thanks to the General C<jm- 
mittee of Arrangements of the Re-Union of the Sons and Daughters 
of Newport to be held July 4th, proximo, for their invitation to 
me to be present and participate in the exercises. 

It would give me great pleasure to accept the invitation of the 
Committee, and respond to the sentiment they have selected, but my 
otficial duty requires me to be in this City on that da\', and I am 
therefore compelled t(j decline their courtesy. 

Providence will send a large delegation to Newport on that 
occasion, for among her most respected citizens are many who take 
pride in being known as the '' Sons and Daughters of Newport," 
and who \\ ill hail the opportunity to visit the •' loved City-l)y-the- 
sea," on the day she has set apart for the return of her children. 



114 ^^^ NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

Thcv will be present to share in the joyous festivities ; to renew 
old associations and to recall the memories of the past ; to clasp 
a<i^ain the hand of friendship ; to walk once more the historic streets, 
and visit the old landmarks ; to again renew their vows of fealty to 
that Newport which has e\er lieen and always will be hrst in their 
hearts. 

With my earnest wishes for a most successful celebration and 

Re-Union 

I am, very truly yours, 

Tjios. a. Doyle, Mayor. 

NINTH REGULAR TOAST. 

Our Ahsoit Cliildrcn — There is no audible reply ; their voices 
are in the air, and every heart must interpret them for itself. 

As being appropriate to this toast, the Secretary read the 
followins' letters. It will be observed that Governor Van 
Zandt refers to one of his poems, the subject of which will 
be recognized by ever}' native Newporter ; and as the lines 
will unquestionably interest every reader they are here re- 
produced. 

New^tojm, Mass., June 30, 1884. 

Frank G. Harris, Esc^: — 
Dear Sir : — 

In reply to your courteous invitation to be one of the speakers 
at the festival of your Re-Union, I have to decline the lionor. It is 
very doubtful if I shall be al)le to be present at all at your joy- 
ous assemblage, and if I should I have no desire to indulge in any 
oratory upon the occasion. 

As one of the children and lovers of •' Old Newport," permit me 
to add the prayer that the foshion and wealth of the modern City 
may leave incorrupt the simplicity and manliness ot character, and 
the love of civil antl religious liberty which has adorned the annals 
of the past, and is indigenous in the heart of every true son of her soil. 
V^ery truly yours, 

Robert C. Pitman. 

Si'RING HoiTSE, I 

Richfield Springs, N. Y., June 30, 1884. j 
Dear Mr. Harris : — 

I should have replied to your kind letter at an earlier date, but 1 
have tried to comply \yith your request to write some words for the 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. II5 

Re-Union. I ha\c l)cen ill c\lt since I reached here, and ani still 
suBerinu: nnich pain and cannot, therefore, do justice to the occasion. 
You know how gladly I would do it it" I coidd. Please express mv 
best wishes for the success and happiness of all my friends at the Re- 
Union and for all time to come. If some of them will pleasantly 
recall my verses on " Polly Tilley's Shop.*" it will be better than 
anything- I can write with the rheumatism turning; ni}- crank, and sul- 
plnu" water running- mv mill. 

Most truly yours, 

Charles C. Van Zaxdt. 

*POLLY tilley's SHOP. 

Do you remember, Tom, my boy ! 

Near forty years ago, 
A frosty, star gemmed Christmas Eve — 

The ground all white with snow ! 
Like shooting stars down Pelham street 

We coasted on a sled — 
^'ou wore a dogs eai^ed coon skin cap, 

And mine was worsted red; 
You jammed your old blue mitten down 

Your pocket, and with glee 
Showed me your tender mother's gift — 

A four pence ha'penny. 
1 had three coppers old and brown. 

And so with slide and hop. 
We went through Spring street on the run 

To Polly Tilley's Shop! 

Alack a day ! that times should change, 

As years go coasting down, 
For Christmas Eve comes just the same 

To Newport's olden town, — 
The sweet bells ring, the children sing. 

The windows smile with light. 
And Bethlehem's diamond star is there, 

Upon the breast of night. 
A bo_v comes dashing down the hill. 

Upon his painted sled, 
But you and I are at the foot ; 

And Polly Tilley's dead ! 

I see it now, the little shop, — 

So queer and old and quaint. 
The iron latch, where eager hands 

Had rubbed oft" all the paint; 
The door, with glass in upper half. 



Il6 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

That jnrred and rang a boll ; 
The little counter with a rail, 

That we remember well ; 
It was as bright as holly leaves, 

And on its dainty top, 
The golden candy rested sweet 

In Polly Tilley's Shop! 

There peppermint and sassafras 

And fragrant vvintergreen, 
And lemon, with a tawny stripe. 

Deliciouslv were seen : 
In shallow pans of unctuous tin, 

Worked with the tenderest care, 
Molasses Candy's flaxen links 

Gleamed like Godiva's hair. 
Oh ! Tom, this dizzy chase for fame 

And gold, we'd better drop : 
While memory points, "with lingering love. 

To Polly Tilley's Shop! 

The little shelves were filled with bowls 

Of herbs, and all the ills, 
That Godfrey's Cordial left, were cured 

By Dean's Rheumatic Pills; 
Some huckleberries bathed in gin. 

And other doctor's stufl' — 
With two fat Qj^iaker colored jars 

Of Scotch and yellow snufl". 
A modest case, of brass knobbed drawers 

" All decked in living green," 
Were labelled Nutmegs, Cloves, and Spice, 

Too precious to be seen. 
And when the bell. began to ring. 

Out Betsey Stanley'd pop, 
With clean checked apron to attend 

On Polly Tilley's Shop ! 

Perhaps a skillful hand might glean 

From memory's golden sheaves, 
Some fairer pictures to adorn 

The pleasant winter eves; 
But there is nothing left on earth 

To ring on Christmas chimes — 
Like the clear, crystal, silvery notes. 

Of childhood's blessed times. 
But Fame's long hill is \ery steep. 

We stagger toward the top. 
And every step but lea\e behind 
Good Polly Tilley's Shop ! 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. II7 

TENTH REGULAR TOAST. 

Our Adopted CJu'ldrcn — We cordially recog'nizc tlicir :il)ility, pub- 
lic spirit and dcNotion to our common interests. 

RESPONSE BY MR. L. D. DAVIS. 

In accepting yoiu" invitation to speak in behalf of the adopted vSons 
of Newport, I understand fidl well that T have a lari^e and honorable 
constituency. It is one of tlie peculiarities of the American people 
in their great and boundless enterprise and ambition, each for him- 
self to go out into the world in search of fame and fortime. Only a 
small portion of our young men are content to occupy ancestral 
homes, and to follow in the footsteps of their fathers. They see tiie 
broad prairies of the West, the sunny lands of the South, the crowded 
marts of the bus>' cities, and as distance always lends enchantment, 
make haste to go forth and in those fresher fields, better tlieir for- 
tunes. And so every city and town giyes and receiyes, and not un- 
frequently the exchange is from the best and most enterprising classes. 

As the result of this disposition to roam abroad we celebrate the 
Re-Union of to-day. Newport has lost much l)y the departure of 
those to the manor born, but we all take pleasure in theeyidence be- 
fore us that their hearts are still with the historic town which gaye 
them birth. They do well to come l)ack occasionally and listen to 
the music of the moaning sea and watch the billows dasli, as in' 
childhood, on the rocky Clifis ; and aboye all gather again in the home 
circles vyhere affection and friendship give their warmest greetings. 

If Newport had given this great liost to the outside world and 
receiyed none in return, she would haye been a deserted village in- 
deed, and afforded a theme for some modern Goldsmith in drawing a 
picture of desolation. 

As Newjiort has freely given so has she freely received. The 
places made vacant have been generously tilled. Each who has come 
has told the story of nature's charms, of the health-giving breezes 
that sweep over the Island, and of the opportunities for social cul- 
ture. Their coming has brought with it increased wealth and busi- 
ness. Not a few of our finest streets and avenues, wliich now con- 
stitute the chief glory of the town, were almost entirely built up by 
the adopted vSons and Daughters w ho ha\ e gathered wealth elsewhere 
and have come and poured it forth as a trilmte to tlie Cit\-b\ -the-sea. 
No other ^Vmerican town lias such a conslituenc\', and it is increasing 
every \ear. 

It is not often that an opportunit\' is afforded to speak of adopted 



Il8 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

Sons and Dan<;"hters so tlistinguished as those for whom I am called 
upon to respond. Tliev include some of the most honored names in 
American annals. What a line of artists do thev form. From (jil- 
bcrt vStuart, who is a Son of Newport 1>\ adoption, we come down 
to such men as Greenough, Staig-g, LaFarge, Richards, and others 
of scarcely less note. 

Among authors we record such names as George Bancroft, tieiu-y 
T. Tuckerman, George H. Calvert, Charles T. Brooks, Julia 
Ward Howe, T. W. Higginson, Susan Coolidge, and many be- 
sides, well known to fame. 

The legal fraternity is represented by the Nestor of the Newport 
bar, the Honorable W^illiam P. Sheffield, the Honorable Francis 
Brinlev. and by jMessrs. Honev, Baker and Ives. To these we proudly 
add the names of Judge Blatchford. of the vSupreme Court, Jutlge 
Curtis of INIassachusetts, and William Beach Lawrence, wdio long 
dwelt among us. 

The medical fraternity is ec|ually well represented. Headed by 
our well known City Physician, Dr. Henry E. Turner, there is a 
long list of regular practitioners including most of those now in the 
City. To these may be added such distinguished physicians as Dr. 
H. R. Storer, Dr. C. Cleveland and Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, who 
make their homes here a whole or a portion of the year. 

Tlie dramatic profession is represented l)y two names, Charlotte 
Cushman and Edwin Booth, of themselves a sufticient tower of 
strength. 

I need not give the names of those whose wealth has won them 
distinction and who, owning cottages and villas on our avenues, are 
liberal contributors to oin^ charities, and \\hose taxes form no mean 
contribution to the Cit\- treasur\-. Hundreds of these are enrolled 
on our tax list, and their interest in Newport, as their adopted sununer 
home, is manifest in many ways. 

In all this Newport has a record ecj^ualled bv no other city in the 
world. These Sons and Daughters by adoption are represented to- 
dav by liberal conti'ibutions for this celebration, as well as being in 
the yer\ tirst in the work of prej^aration. lioth Chairman Waters and 
Secretar\- Harris of tlie (ienei-al Committee being among the number. 

And the l)eaut\- of it all is that the feeling of a conunon brother- 
hood binds together those who are New]iorters by Itirtlu'ight and 
those who are such by the exercise of theii" o\\ n volition. In many 
departments tlie native and the adopted Sons are so intermingleil and 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. II9 

so iinillcd that the distinction is not at all perceptible. One-half the 
Mayors of onr Citv ha\e heen chosen from its a(lo])tctl Sons, and to- 
day the department of piil)lic etUication, the Post Ollice, and the 
Custom House are in their charge. The two classes ha\e joined 
hands in every good work, and with a unity of purpose and plan are 
pushing forward the work of progress and reform. No true lover of 
the town will be parts' to a note of discord at this point, or consent 
to a line of demarkation by which the one class shall be arrayed in 
the slightest degree against the other. 

ELEVENTH REGULAR TOAST. 

The Army — The history of its achievements is our just pride. 

ADDRESS BV LIEUT. A. 15. DYER. U. S. ARMY. 

J//-. T'oasfinasfer : — 

Out of the fidlness of the heart the mouth speaketh. The repletion 
of the stomach calls for golden silence. 

It has alwavs been my aml:)ition, since early childhood, to be a 
soldier ; but this is the Hrst opportunity that has ever presented itself 
when I have been able to follow in the footsteps of the greatest cap- 
tain of the age. (jeneral Grant made use of a piece of yellow paper 
for the notes of a speech he once delivered ; I do the same. 

This anniversary of our glorious independence naturally calls to 
mind the subject of our Army, and it })asses in rapid mental re\iew — 
the struggles of that gallant band of patriots that gave to us this 
grand republic, the few hundred men who composed the Army for 
years after the close of the Revolution, slowly Init snrely pushing the 
aborigines towards the Mississippi and throyving open to the hardy 
frontiersman those rich prairies that are now considered a part of the 
east — the war of 181 2 — then the struggles with the Indians in Florida, 
when the volunteeis did such eflective service — the campaigns in 
Mexico, that now read like a romance — and finally the rebellion, 
when the countr\' gave its l)one and sinew, and pnned itself a nation 
ot sokliers — and now the world kno\ys that the merchant, the farmer, 
the artisan, the laborer of America at once springs to arms at the 
rude blast of war. The regular ^Vrmy is but an integral part of the 
Army ot America ; Init it is a \ery necessary part I can assure you. 
I do not propose gixing you all the reasons therefore ; but if there be 
no objection I woidd like to print m\ t'ull speech in the Congres- 
sional Recoi'd. 

Puisuant to the act of Januar\ 6, 1776. of the New York Conven- 
tion, there yyas raised in March of that }ear, by Alexander Hamilton, 



I20 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

a company of artillery. After gallant service thronghont the Revolu- 
tion this company under command of Captain John Dought\ in 
June, 17S4 — ^just one hundred years ago — constituted our regular 
iVrmy and I am proud to say that the same company is now one of 
the batteries of the regiment to which I have the honor of belonging. 
It is Light Battery -^ F" of the Fourth United States Artillery. 

The i\rmv was immediately raised to about eight hundred men, 
and in 1786 the Shay rebellion caused Congress to slightly increase 
the artillery ''for service on the frontiers." These troops did duty 
in the State of Massachusetts for a longtime and several years elapsed 
before they really reached the frontiers. 

In the course of a few years tlie Army was considerably increased 
and in 1792 it consisted of about 5,000 men. Two years later it was 
reduced to about 3,000 men. At the close of the last century the 
growing troubles with France caused frequent and extensive aug- 
mentations of the militarv force, and the various acts of Congress 
empowered the President to raise a force of about one hundred thou- 
sand men ; this however was not actually done. The clouds of war 
having fortunately dispersed, the Army was reduced in 1800, and 
again in 1S02 when it reached the meagre limit of 3.000. 

The prospect of war with Great Britain in 1S08 made it necessary 
to considerably increase the Army, and during the war, which actu- 
ally commenced in 1S12, many acts were passed increasing it until 
the authorized strength, if I remember aright, was sixty thousand, 
although we had hardly 35,000 men in service. 

At the close of the war in iSl^ the Army was reduced to 10,000 and 
in 1 83 1 it was again reduced and given the organization that now forms 
its basis. A slight increase was made during the Florida war only to be 
taken awav a few years later. The Mexican war, of course, largely 
increased the Army ; but the returning peace again reduced it. and at 
the outbreak of the rebellion our regular Army — ten thousand men — 
was soon lost in the ^\rmv of America — a million men. 

In 1866 the regular Army was established at 60,000; in 1S69 or 
1870 it was reduced to 30.000 and a few years later it was again re- 
duced 1)\- ^.000. so that with a nation of ^0.000,000 of people we 
ha\e an Armv of only 25.000 men. Just think of it for a moment. 
The United .States of America (she who holds in her right hand the 
Island of Rhode Island, while the )c\\eled Inigers of her left hand 
are dipped in the waters of tlie Pacific, and. her teet resting on the 
contines of the repul)lic of ^Mexico, co(j1s her brow in the waters of 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 121 

the iVrctic Ocean) lias a regular Army of only 25,000 men. Why, 
my friends, you could not see it witli a foin'-hundred magnifying' 
power niicrosco])e. 

The i"egular Army, if full, would consist of 2^,000 men ; but such 
.1 llapp^• condition of afVairs is impossible. The regulations say 
that the Oificer of the Day cannot get drunk and it is therefore simply 
impossil)le for the Armv, as a whole, to be full. Small as it is, it 
feels the l)onds of bi^otherluxnl existing l)etween it and the tax-payer, 
to whom it owes its existence, and it has, at the same time, the proud 
satisfaction of knowing that it has nobly repaid the debt. 

TWELFTH REGULAR TOAST. 

The Navy — Our own Sons have added the lustre of their deeds 
to its renown. 

REPLY OF LIEUT. J. D. J. KELLEV, U. S. NAVY. 

Mr. Cliairiiiai/ and Citizens of A'ezcport: — 

It is with a keen sense of gratitude that the Navy, through its rej)- 
resentatives here, thanks you for the sentiment just uttered ; for the 
service knows that this expression of your trust and confidence l)ut 
reasserts the moral and material support which this sea-girt town 
has ever given the national marine. 

A sea born and a sea descended people Nourselves, you have e\er, 
in da\s of peace or when perils have threatened, measured at their 
truest worth the duties with \vhich the service has lieen entrusted ; 
and conscious of this appreciation and encouragement we, who recall 
the past, have never doubted what the present would l)e. For that 
past and for this present I tliank you in the Nav\'sname; and in that 
future of increasetl usefulness \\ Inch is slowl}' but certainly coming 
we are siu'e ot the same old helping hands, siu'c of the same old 
cheering songs. 

Words but faintly measure what Newport has been to the Nav}', 
tor, from these sliores, glorious now witli a triumph no less grand 
than those of war. you have sent to it heroes, the memories of whose 
valor re-echo to this day ; and so long as pennants flutter in the 
loyal breezes from the mast heads of our ships, their names and the 
name of this dear, old town they loved so well — shall never die. 

TnniTEENTH REGULAR TOAST. 

I'he N^eivport loinnieers — Their tlevotion and valor will ever be 
gratefid memories to every true son of Newport. 



122 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



THE REPLY OF REV. M. A. NOLAN. 



Ladies and Goitlcnioi : — 

Twenty-three years have passed since I was last present at a ^reat 
public gathering in Newport. 

The occasion, then, was the I'cturn from the war of the iirst New- 
port volunteers. And although the town is, to-day, ringing with joy 
and gladness at the Re-Union of lier Sons and Daughters, believe 
nie, no one of us feels so deep a thrill of pleasure as that which 
lightened the weary hearts of those same \'olunteers, three and twenty 
}ears ago. 

I can well recall the day of their dej^arture — and how solemn a 
day it was ! Each volunteer, the centre of an anxious group — 
mothers and wives and sweethearts, yes and stout hearted old fathers 
— all tcarfidly anxious for the dear ones who were embarking on an 
enterprise from which they might never return. One hundred strong 
we sailed out into the Bay, only one hundred, liut with us on that 
day, went forth one hundred thousand gcwd wishes from the hearts 
we left behind. 

Of what happened while we were away, it becomes me not to 
speak — that the records of the time can well attest. Suttice it for me 
to say, that on our return Newport was proud to welcome her l)oys 
home again. 

Mr. Chairman, when I ask myself how it came to pass, that I, ;'. 
Minister of Peace, should have been selected to respond to this seem- 
ingly war-like sentiment, I can only acccnnit for it by the belief that 
the Committee wished so to express their conviction that the whole 
war was waged only in the interests of peace. 

It was not a war of conquest, neither was it a war t(^ fiuiher the 
ambition of any man. From the beginning of the republic, brothers 
had debated and discussed a question of truth and right — a question 
of justice and hiunanity. The time had come when that (.[uestion 
nuist be settled forever. 

That done, the armies dissolved and the men scattered to their 
homes throughout the nation. 

Behold here the triumph of peace! Once more enthroned in the 
land, she changed the stern soldier into the gentle citizen, and at once 
set al)out ellacing tlie ravages of war. There is no grandei' ])age in 
history, than the record of that transformation. Yesterchiy a million 
of soldiers — to-day a million of workers ! The trade of war was 
transient ; peace the business of life. 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 



123 



In tlie jinh^c 011 tlic hcuch, in the lawyer ple:ulin,i,r for justice before 
the courts, in the physician at the bedside of the dyincr. in tlic 
preacher in his pulpit, you must seek tlie leaders who V'sterday 
stood in the \an;j^uard of the nation's armies. 

The sound of the carpenter's hanuner and the blacksmith's anvil 
replace as if l)y enchantment the noise of the fife and drum. 
^ The work accomplished— the routine of life was calmly resumed. 
Such a scene as this the world had never witnessed. Never does 
this come home to f)ne so forcibly, as when travelling? throus^h the 
countries of the old world, he is impressed with the military charac- 
ter which pervades. You are made to feel that they deem a man 
lirst a solilier, then a citizen, and your thou<,dit <i;ovs back with pride 
to the dear land beyond the sea where a man is a citizen first and 
alwa\s. 

That particular question, then, which called out the Newport vol- 
nnteers was at rest forever. Hut the .sxreat cause of truth and justice, 
rio-ht and humanity remained to be foui^iit out in other ways in the 
.i^reat battle-field of the world. And I am sure tliat some of my old 
connades have found with me, that at times it is a braver thino- to 
face life than to face death. 



do n 



not mean that it is an easy thing to stand up true and steadfast 
while the guns of the enemy are belching forth fire directly at you— 
far from it— Init then you have the excitement of the day— the help of 
heroic example all around you, the cheering encouragement of your 
leaders— while the battle of life is almost always fought out in silence 
and alone. 

Therefore I hold that the man, who after twenty or more years, 
reappears among the comrades of youth, having withstood the tempt- 
ations and assaults of vice and error, having kept himself nncontam- 
inated of the world, having held his name and honor so unsullied 
that his native town is proud to hail him as her son, that man has 
won a victory of greater merit than was ever won by soldier with 
his sword. 

It may, then, be permitted me to say to the younger generation of 
the Sons and Daughters of Newport— think not that the volunteers 
of twenty years ago accomplished all ; they did their duty, yours lies 
before you— there is need of all and there is room tor all . Peck- 
ham and Harrington stood side by side on the morning of the first 
battle of the war. representing diHerent races and different creeds ; 
they fought with equal bravery in the same cause, and those of us 



124 '^^^ NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

wlio saw tlicni in the evening- lyint^ dead side by side knew that they 
had fallen with equal merit on tlie field of honor. 

So we ask you to eiu-oll your names and enlist for the true and the 
rij^lit and enlist for the whole war. 'I'hen the older men will _2;o 
down to the graye happy in the knowledge that the flag is still held 
aloft, that the cause is triumphant, and that, at the Re-Union of 
twenty-liye years hence, Newport will ha\e reason to he as proud of the 
new, as she was in days gone hy. of the old legion of her yolunteers. 

FOIIKTEENTH REGULAR Tf)AST. 

Nczvport in iSjg and in 1884 — The record of the quarter of a 
eenturv. It has been a prosperous one for oiu^ loyely City. 

MR. geor{;e peabodv wetmore's address. 
Mr. Toastmastcr., Tour Excellency., Sons and Daug/itcrs of 
Newport : — 

From 1S59 to 1SS4, a peiMod of twcnt\-fiye years, a quarter of a 
centur\ , almost a generation ; \ears in b^urope pregnant of exents, 
witnessing the wars between Prussia and Dcniuark. Prussia and 
Austria, and Prussia. Ilanoxer, Pa\aria, Saxonv. \\'urtem])urg and 
Paden against France, resulting in the re-establishment of the (Ger- 
man and the oyei"thro\y of the French Empire : the petty principali- 
ties of Italy shattered and their fragments welded into a united king- 
dom ; vSpain changed to a republic onl\' to return again to a mon- 
arch\ ; the Atlantic and f)ther cal)les and the Suez Canal in success- 
lul operation, bringing together the ends of the world and reyolu- 
tionizing its commerce. 

On our own continent, the birth of an empire and its death in that 
of Maximilian. 

At home a n.^tion composed of thirt\ -three states, tiye territories 
and thirt\ -one millions of people — at peace — then, in quick succession, 
ciyil war. a race enfranchised, commerce swept from otbthe face of 
the ocean, ]inblic credit destro\ed, a del>tot three thousand millions of 
dollars created, a million and a halfofiuen in arms. Peace again ; the 
sight unparalleled of those soldiers retuining to their homes anil beat- 
ing their swords into ploughshares; ]:)ublic credit restored, specie 
])ayments resniued, and to-da\' thirty-eight states, nine territories, 
and more than iift\-ll\e millions of people. 

Rhode Island in 1859, with a population of 17^,000, had in 1880 
277,000, a gain of nearly 60 per cent. Her area of 108:; s(|uare 
miles reiuains unchanged ; but, I trust, your Excellenc\ will pardon 
me in saying, we measure our State by her Jicad antl not by the loot. 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 1 25 

I may as well confess here, that the last reniark is not original hut 
selected, for if 1 do not. I am sure in these da\s of wide readinij and 
difliise learnint;- that murder will out. The thunder is stolen from 
Mr. vSanl)orn, thoui;-h he does not know it. ^'ou will find it in the 
Newport Mercury of August 37th, 1S59. on the third page, second 
column, pretty well down, and notwithstanding mv confession I now 
give public notice that I still claim full o\vnership for its application 
antl shall in due course demand a patent. 

And now to turn to our own City and, at the same time, to return 
to the toast. What rej)ort of our stewanlship can we make for these 
long years.'' Well, I will begin by quoting from the Newport Mer- 
cury of August 27th, 1S59, where, in an account of the Re-Union 
festivities just held, I find this sentence, '' What was iirst seen by the 
returning son or daughter was almost entireh' the same, with but 
little change for the better or the worse. It was Newport again, 
sure enough," and, I was about t(^ add, her fogs, but these j'ou 
ha\e just escaped. From this e\identh-, those \ylio returned the last 
time and are here with us again to-daN', cannot recpiire much at our 
hands, and I am, therefore, emboldened to make some comparisons. 

In i860 the City of Newport had 10,500 iniiabitants ; in 1880, 
15,693, a gain of more than 50 per cent. 

Between the years 1859 '^"*^ 1884 the following contrasts are shown : 

1S59. 1SS4. 

Valuation Real Estate $7.049, icx) $21,227,400 

Valuation Personal Estate 3-43.v3C50 6,316,200 

Totals $io.4S4,4cx) $2 7.543.(xx3 

Annual Tax Levy $48,223.24 $280,583.26 

Tax Rate on $ioo 461-. .$1.0^ 

Putting it in another form, om' taxable pro|iert\- has increased 
163.7 P^' cent., and our taxes 500.4 per cent., and our tax rate 13.6 
per cent. 

1S59 1884. 

The City Debt $2o,oo(t $78,500.00 

Less Sinkini^ P'lmd 18,963.49 

Net Debt 2o,cxxi $59,536.51 

Annual Interest diarize i''97 4,7io.(x) 

It may be interesting also to compare the items of the tax le\ \ for 
these same years : 



126 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

1S59. 1S84. 

Pulilic Schools $ 9-5CK) $31,495 

Stiects and IIiu;hwajs 10,000 yG.ocjO 

Watch and Police 4,000 21,400 

Salaries 4,500 17,410 

F'irc Department, Engine Houses and Lots, 2nd \ i-500 24,000) 

and 3rd Wards j 17,000 j 

Newport Asylum 4,000 4,000 

Lighting Streets -,300 24,000 

Paupers and Vagrants S(X) 6.000 

State Tax 4.419.40 35.36S.26 

Interest City Debt i.kx) Sw'o 

Sinking Fund i.cxio 5,(xto 

Water Supply 10,000 

Miscellaneous .S-Sj.S 12,200 

Totals $48,994.40 $289,583.26 

What have we to show for tliesc so (rreatlv increased expenditures.^ 
We can fn^st point to oiu" commiuiications with the outside world 
not then existing, tlie extension of the OUl Colony Railroad to New- 
port, the Wickford Steaml)oat and Railroad Company, the Jamestown 
P\'rry, and the Narragansett Pier boat as well as, to increa,sed facili- 
ties of travel and comfort atlbrded by the old lines, the Fall River and 
Providence Steamboat Companies. In local ways of communication 
the Ocean Drive and those arountl Easton's Point, under the Hang- 
ing Rocks, and Indian Avenue along the eastern shore of the Island, 
giving healthful drives with views of ocean, coast and bay. 

As further progress, wc can name with pride the Rogers High 
School ; a largely increased number of school-houses ; buildings for 
the fire department furnished wMth steam fire-engines ; the Newport 
Hospital ; the Reduood Library enlarged ; the Townsend Free 
Library ; the Channing Memorial Church ; the introduction of 
water ; the use f)f electric light ; the telephone ; the electric fire alarm ; 
the Casino on Bellevue Avenue, and the shops in the immediate neigh- 
borhood ; the Agricidtiu'al Society, removed to enlarged surround- 
ings ; the Charity Organization Society and a Society for the Puilding 
of Improved Tenements. 

Dinging the civil war oin^ (Government entrusted to our care the 
Na\al ^\cadem\-. which has since lieen returned to its old abode. 
She has since gi\en a torpedo station, a training school for na\al ap- 
prentices, and is now about, wc understand, to locate in addition a 
scliool for na\al graduates. 

We at last \ ield tardy justice also to the ^^ast and to oiu" naval hero, 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 1 27 

the elder Perry, and State, City and eiti/.eiis lia\e united in a nienio- 
rial to l)e made in enduring bronze, fashioned by tlie cunning and 
sympathetic hand of a Newport son himself of honoral)le lineage. 

I am sure you ha\e all noticetl the greatly imjiroNed condition of 
the roadways, and I know of no American city that can compare to 
us in this respect. Still thev are by no means perfect, and it will be 
tbund true econonn' after ha\ing made them, to keej) them in thorough 
repair (which I am sorry to say is not done to the extent it might be) 
by constant mending and by sprinkling with water. You must have 
been struck by the great increase in the number of villas, built in all 
tlirections, the varietv of their architecture and the careful attention 
bestowed on grass, trees and shrubs. — Among the things that were 
and are not, we must not forget the disajopearance of the old hotels, 
the Touro, the Bellevue, the Fillmore and the Atlantic House. The 
Ocean House alone remains of the large summer abodes, gathering 
renewed vigor as the years go on. Villas have given Newport its 
pre-eminent position as a watering place and its wide-world reputa- 
ti(Mi, and it will be a sorry day should any policy ever make of it a 
place devoted to excursions. Let us be content with our own de- 
velopment. " No man can serve two masters." 

FIFTEENTH REGULAR TOAST. 

Our lhisi)icss Interests — Though not entireh' commercial, they 
have brought renown to our City, both at home and abroad. 

HON'. THOMAS C'OCKiESH ALL's RESPONSE. 

I>y traditions and from the historian's pen we have been taught 
that our City was for niany years the metropolis of commerce, that 
out and in there went and came white-sail ships by lumdreds, laden 
here, and bringing back merchandise from foreign lands, too often 
freighted with human beings from the coast of Africa. Ft)llowing 
that, daring seamen braved the terrors of ocean, chasing the leviathan 
of the deep. Later yet, e\en within the quarter of a centin"y just 
passed, energetic and earnest men sought business to anti from the 
islands of the West Indies. All was in vain as a permanent in- 
dustry. 

In manufactiuMng, tlie hum of the loom and clang of the anvil 
were sought to reward the risks of capital, onh' to be abandoned. In 
agriculture, the last of the three great industries, but little reward is 
seciu"ed to the farmer with the vast competition. \el in liorticulture 
and tloriculture our intelligent gardeners and llorists challenge supe- 
riority in product and cheapness. Thus I have portrayed the fact 



128 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

tliat luisinc'ss as recognized in tlic Inisy world is almost aliandoncd in 
our Island home, yet measured by good success in life, we have 
abmulant prosperity in developing, adorning and making more beau- 
tilid this town of ours. Thanks to the benefactors Elam, Fry, Kane, 
Derby, Coggeshall, Freebody, Littlefield, Cranston, Townsend and 
others, our worthy poor are tenderly cared for ; nor is our City Gov- 
ernment ever unmindful of its duty to the needy poor. Charles Bird 
King generously, and William Sanford Rogers munificently, supple- 
mented the willing acts of our City Council that education should be 
freely and fully given to Newport's Sons and Daughters. There are 
yearly sent to colleges of learning and to the business world intelli- 
gent, earnest and capable youth, ready for life's duties. Second to 
no city in our land is Newport in its educational privileges. 

The National Government has recognized the superiority of our 
coast position by bringing a garrison of troops, a scientific corps of 
the Navy, and more recently the United States Naval Training 
Squadron, and that to be speedily supplemented bv a Naval college. 

Our avenues and streets are liberally provided for, and (jur arteries 
of commiuiication to and from the outer world vastly increased in 
the score of vears just passed, by a liberal and far-seeing City Coun- 
cil and people. Newport is to the United ^States as Brighton is to 
England. The business of entertaining the thousands that yearly 
seek our Cit\ for ([uiet and healthful recreation is as legitimate and 
far more lucratixe than tlie ordinary pin-siiits antl axenues of trade. 
sixtp:e.\th regular toast. 

'J"/ic C7erijiv — The sentinels on the watch-tower of Zion ; may 
tiieir vigilance be abundantly rewarded. 

RESPONSE BY RE\^ C. W. WENDTE. 

It was not my good fortune, Mr. Toastmaster and friends, to have 
been l)orn in Newport, and that is a sorrowfid fact in m\ life-history 
which I shall have to bear with me to my grave, but 1 shall at least 
save my reputation for good taste when I inform \\\\ liearers that 
I arri\cd here as soon after my birth as possible and at a very early 
and tender age. Alanx' summers in my bo\hood and maturer \ears 
I spent in this tlear old Cit\ -l)y-the-sea, so that when I was called 
liither as ])astor of the Channing Memorial Church it seemed indeed 
like coining liome and among friends. 1 can enter most heartily, 
therefore, into tlie spiiit of this occasion and respond with especial 
pleasiue to the sentiment which connnemorates the character and 
services of the clergy of Newport. 'J'he clerg\' ha\e alwa\s occu- 
pied a large and honorable place in the past history of our City 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 



129 



and their iiitlucuce has been a power for \irtue, lioliiiess and love. 
Let nie remind vou that it is to a clerg\ man that Xewport owes its 
very existence. It was the Rev. Roger Williams, that apostle of 
civil liberty and religious toleration, who first directed the attention 
of Coddington and his associates to this fair Island, and ad\ised him 
to locate here his infant colon\ . It ^\■as anotlier clergyman. l>ishop 
Rerkelew the scholar, philosopher and humanitaiian. whose sojourn 
on the Island oi Peace gave its inhabitants an impulse for learning 
and culture which is perpetuated to this \ery day. and of which the 
Redw ootl and I'ree Libraries, the public schools and the \arious scien- 
tific and literary societies among us, in behalf of which the clergy of 
Newport ha\ e ever deeply interested themselves, are the nol)le fruits. 
It was from his humble, faithful pastorate in this Cit\- that the learned 
and eloquent Dr. Stiles was called to assume the presidency of ^'ale 
College, which position he filled ^yith such distinguished honor. 

The old meeting house still stantls on yonder quiet street, in which 
Dr. Hopkins lifted up his brave, rebuking voice against the social 
sins of intemperance ami shneiv . In the open field, near b\ . the 
magic elocjuence ot \\ hitefield won the hearts of his hearers to that 
new (iospel of Methodism, which since his day has become the 
cherished faitli of luillions of our people. Time would fail to enu- 
meiate the names and \irtues, the eminent services to man and (jod 
of the clerg\- of Xcw(:)ort, Catholic and Protestant. Jew and Christian. 

Put these, with few exceptions, were Xewporters only by adoption. 
I will ask your grateful homage to a minister of the gospel, born^and 
reared in our ow n Cit\-, and closely identified \yith its religious and 
social interests, but \yhose name antl intluence have gone fortl: into 
all the VNorld as a gieat civilizing and inspiring force, and conferred 
uncbing lustre on his birth]:)lace. I refer to Dr. William Eller\- 
Channing. the eloquent preacher, the elegant writer, the earnest 
witness against the national sin of shnerv, the friend of the laboring 
and impoverished classes, the transcendent moral genius of his age, 
whose virtues illustrate the ertecti\'e power of a spiritual Christianity 
in ([uickening individual and social life. 

It is my humble lielief that the clergy of the j^resent day are not 
altogether unworthy to succeed these able and saintly men who ha\e 
been named. Put of this \om- own grateful and kindl\- memories 
nnist bear witness, rather tiian m\' voice. I can only pa\' brief but 
feeling tribute in closing to such ministers of the present generation 
as tiie late Re\-. Dr. Parrows, whose pure, consecrated life and 
scholarly preaching is held in deserved lujuor among our citizens, to 



130 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

my dear friend, and yours, the late Rev. Charles Timothy Brooks, 
whose unspotted, amiable, useful and devout life will be forever a 
fragrant memory with us, and who, at your last Re-Union, twenty- 
five years ago, contributed a graceful poem to the occasion. And 
lastly I ask your kind remembrance for the Rev. Dr. Thatcher 
Thayer, the scholar, orator and good citizen whose advanced years 
and infirmities alone prevent his attendance at oiu" feast of cheer 
antl good-will to-dav. Mav the clerg\- of the present and the future 
be mindful of the worth, the liigh aims and devoted ser\ ices of their 
predecessors in tlie pulpits of Newport, and the people's heart re- 
spond ever genertjuslv and loyally to their appeals for virtue, order, 
culture and religion ! 

jMr. Toastmaster, a certain English Bishop was once asked tiie 
])roper length of a sermcMi. "• Twentv minutes," he replied, •• with 
a leaning to the side of mercv." Vou informed me, sir, that 
ten minutes was the portion of time allotted for m\' address. I trust 
the bre\itv of these remarks will show that I ha\e remembered and 
l)ettered the instruction. 

SEVENTEENTir RE(;UEAR TOAST. 

TJic ^fcd/'cal Profession — An iiidispeiisaltle lirancli ot science ; 
\WA\ the success of its members be as tiieir assichious dexotion to its 
teachings deserves. 

ADDRESS BY DR. II. R. STORER. 

Daiii^htcrs and So)is of o/ir ncautif/il City of the Sea: — 

That, at the preceding Re-Union of your parents and grandparents, 
in iS:;y, the physician to respond to the toast to m\' profession. Dr. 
Usher l*ai'sons, was, perhaps, at the time, the most distinguislied 
representative of the medical practitioners of Rhode Island, makes 
my position at this moment, by the contrast, very eml)arrassi ng. Dr. 
Parsons had l)een fleet surgeon to vour fniious Berrv, and the mere 
mention of bis name in an assembly like this, was as suie as that of 
Perry, to elicit tokens of approval before he had e\en risen to speak. 
Besides, tliough of Providence, Dr. Parsons was practically one of 
}ourselves, while mv onl}' title to your consideration is that of a son 
by adoption, and 1 am to most of you, e\en by name, but a stran- 
ger. And yet so closely are the respective States of our birth united, 
not merelv b\' contiguity f)f soil, but by identities of history, that a 
])ilgrim from Massachusetts Hay is soon made to feel, as of yore, 
that he is welcome in the Plantations of Rhode Island. We of Mas- 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. I3I 

s;icluisetts sent you our Roger Williams, aiul tliou<;h there was at the 
time some slii^ht irreguhiritN' in the method of transfer, you of 
Rhode Ishiud have to confess that to our mistaken perversity you owe 
the object of your greatest pride, the course of \()ur whole history, 
and even the very existence of this Xew]M)rt, which outranks so 
widely all other Newports under the sun. 

As I have said by implicatitju, it is not only Roger Williams, hut 
Dr. John Clarke, the founder of Newport, for wIkjui \uu aie in- 
debted to the PlynK)uth Colon\-. A frienil of Anne Hutchinson, 
and a de\(>ut. God-fearing person. Dr. Clarke took pattern of holy 
St. Luke, since he was not onl\' a good ph\sician, Init so Idled \yith 
a sense of the nearness of the I)i\ine i)resence, and of his own voca- 
tion to bring the surroy\ing to our .Sa\ iour's feet, that he went about 
this town preaching the Word from the pulpit as well as at theching 
bed. It was impossible for such a man to long endiue, or be en- 
dured in, the then social atmosphere of Boston. 

\'ou have, however, repaid our gift l)y sending to us from New- 
port, of your own best men. Dr. Samuel Danforth, for so many years 
]5i()minent in Boston, Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse. and, in later \ears. 
Dr. Walter Chamiing, one of my own preceptors, \yho ga\e the ad- 
dress in behalf of the returned Sons and Daughters at the former 
Re-Union, l^oth of the latter were called to till chairs in Harvard 
University, of which Danforth and Channing were graduates, and 
Waterhouse the recipient of its honorary medical degree. Danforth 
became Presitlent of the Afassachusetts Medical vSociet\', and they 
all were Fellows of Boston's most honorable guild, the American 
Academy of Arts and Sciences. Waterhouse and Channing, most 
fortunate of men, were identified with the two greatest improvements 
in medicine of modern, indeed of ancient and modern times. It was 
to Waterhouse that Jenner imparted his discovery of \accination, 
and he was its elfective first evangelist in America ; while Channing, 
the one who practiced, he said, while his brother preached, by his 
masterly work upon etherization in child-birth seconded the im- 
pulse that had been given by vSimpson of Edinburgh, toward annul- 
ling the physical anguish of the primal curse. All other luunan suf- 
fering, however intense, can be imderstot)d through the ^vord [)ain, 
but to this supreme bitterness there has been no term applicable save 
agony. 

Did time permit, 1 woidd further illustrate, from this perhaps un- 
accustomed standpoint, the early medical histories of Newport. I 
can do no more, however, than mention the names, already familiar 



132 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

U) yoii, of the physicians who were gathered here, themselves or their 
fatliers, from different huids, the ahnimi of distant schools of science, 
and with varying religions and political convictions — Puritan, Friend, 
Huguenot and Catholic, loyalist and patriot. Clarke and Jeffries. 
Cranston, Ayrault and the Rodmans, the Vignerons, Noyes and 
Stanton, Robinson. I?rett, Hunter. Molfat, Ilalibiirton, Oliphant, 
Hooper, Senter, Gardner, Easton, Fletcher and Mason are all, witli 
Danforth and Waterhouse, upon your roll of honor previous to the 
present century, although the two latter, by reason of the proverbial 
Ne\vport longevity, were spared into the present, for a living exam- 
ple to our fathers, since they both, as Channing also, nearly lived to 
celebrate their own centennial. Danforth and Channing died at 
ninety, and Waterhouse at ninety-two. 

Nor can I speak to vou as I \yould of the Newport physicians of 
the Hrst lialfof our own century. sa\e to add their names to those of 
the illustrious dead wh(j preceded them. Drs. William Turner, 
David King, Sr., Edmund Thomas Waring, Benjamin \V^. Case and 
Enoch Hazard were all of them, in 1S12, among the foiniders of the 
State Medical vSociety, which has ever preserved its due proportion 
of the collective good reputation and honor of Rhode Island. Of my 
predecessor here, the chnjnicler of by-gone medical days and men, 
whom I first knew in his old age as an occasional, most welcome 
guest at my father's table, and subsequently met at medical gather- 
ings in his own city, I need only say tliat he left a worthy monu- 
ment to his own memory in the person of his son. the distinguished 
Pro\idence professor, beloved by his professional contemporaries. 
Of the Newport physicians who were then, at the former Re-Union, 
in the prime of life, not one survives. Drs. James Turner, Theo})hi- 
lus C. Dunn, Daniel Watson, Charles Cotton — who. through his 
presence professionally at the battle between the tlornet and tiie Pea- 
cock, conferred upon Newport similar fame to that conveyed to 
Providence l)y Surgeon Parsons fr;)m Lake Erie, — Da^■id King, 
vSamuel Wiswall Butler — all rest from their laliors, but their memory 
is fresh in your hearts. To Drs. Dunn and King, the latter the most 
distinguisiied of \()ur plnsicians in our own days. I ma\' be ])ermitted 
brief personal tribute. Shortly after entering my profession, thirty- 
one years ago the present month, I was admitted to memliership in 
the American Medical Association. The delegates to the Association 
from Newport w^ere then, and for many years sul>sequently. Drs. 
Dunn and King. The acquaintance thus early ibrmed. r)ecame in the 
case of the latter gentleman, Dr. Dunn having deceased, an intimate 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. I33 

one upon m\- removal to Newport, ami 1 hear testimony, as can many 
another ph\sician I'vom every portion of the country, to the favorable 
impression, so manv Ncars ago ibrmetl, of the medical profession ot 
Southern Rhode Island from the digniiied. courteous and attractive 
1>earing- of those gentlemen of the old school, of tine scholarship and 
of manners. 

The toast of 18^9 was to '^ Our Old Doctors." The old doctors of 
Newport at the present day consist of but three. Long may they be 
spared to keep each other in countenance. lUit time will (juickly 
make its changes. During my own lirief seven years ot residence 
here. Dr. vSands has been taken away, Dr. Buttrick, Dr. Butler, Dr. 
King. 

Of living physicians, I would gladly speak were it proper to do so, 
for vou have among vour middle-aged and younger men, those with 
whom the medical traditions of your City may safely rest. 

I would do \ iolence, however, to the feelings of his associates, ot 
whom I am but the voice, did I not allude to the venerable prac- 
titioner. Dr. IIenr\ E. Turner, the senior of us all, despite his still 
youthful ai)pearance and wa\s. around whom, tor his own sake and 
in memory of his uncle and father, whose places he fills, cluster the 
sympathies of so many Newport homes — the President ot the Red- 
wood Librarv, of the vState Board of Health, and of the medical staff 
of the Newport Hospital. Thrcnigh his absence alone have I been 
selected to speak to you, for he has to-day, like his beloved patron, 
Cincinnatus of old, left the plow in the professiinial furrow and 
hastened to w here there are rumors of a war long passed, and the 
dust of history if not of battle, and loving cups to a glorious ancestry 
of whom our countr\ may well be proud to the end of time. As one 
who bears in his own veins the l)lood upon one side of a participator 
in King George's famous tea party in l')Oston Harbor, and upon the 
other that which was heated in nn)re than one revolutionary passage- 
at-arms upon the huul, your speaker may ho[)e, with you all, that 
the Fourth of July mav l>e far distant when the Society of the Cin- 
cinnati antl the Grand Army of the Repul)lic shall have outlived the 
generous envy and approval of their fellow citizens. 

The next Re-Union — what will be the theme of my successor, who 
shall speak to your children in the name of the physicians of his 
time.^ 1 think I can tell you, lor its Ibreshadows have already 
reached oursehes. \'ou have in voni- midst a model hospital, whose 
trustees intend that it shall become the special pride, as it is the 
blessing, of your City. Though suppcjsed to be ahead)- rich, and 



134 '^^^ NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

though it will (louhtlcss eventuallv be free from anxieties in this 
direction, it is still, from the difHciilly of realizing from its hnuls, em- 
barrassed for the means to develop important measm'es that its man- 
agers have at heart, and it would still turn to gootl purpose all your 
offerings. Comparatively imperfect as it thus yet is in its work, it is 
by far the best place in Newport for the convalescence of many an 
in\alid. And why? Simplv because, in acklition to proper nursing, 
medicine and diet, it is the one thought of all concerned in its care 
that the air to be lireathed h\ these enfeebled invalids should be as 
pure as possible, free from every unsanitary taint, and as like as may 
be to the atmosphere of Newport of the old time, when Dr. John 
Clarke first entered it, and there were nowhere scattered, above or 
just beneath the soil, the products of deca\ , the seeds of death. Is it 
better to wait till \(.mv guests have to seek pm"e air h\ the hospital, 
or to provide it for them and }Oursel\cs, at first hand and within 
vour homes.'' I shall spare you, however, all further application of 
the principle, now a cardinal one with the medical profession, to 
which I ha\ e led \()u. Ph\sicians are and e\er must be the guardians 
of the life and health of a city, its growth and vigor, as they are of 
those of its citizens, and precisely as the reverend clergy are the cus- 
todians of its morals. A very high standard, in the one as in the 
other, will produce commensurate results. Do not fail to remem- 
ber that I say this to you, not from myself merely, but in behalf of the 
whole profession of our Citw At the next quarter-centenary of her 
Sons and Daughters, nia\- it be claimed that Newport has more than 
preser\ed, and thi^ough a more valid title than ever before, its right 
to the ajjpreciation of all whose gotxl opinion is worth the having, 

1 close with the parting sentiment of my predecessor, at the l^e- 
Lhiion of iS^9 : " The memory of distinguished plnsicians of Rhode 
Island, who ha\e well }:)la\e(l their part in the diama of professional 
life." and I acUl to it simply this: ^Vnd espccialK those of Newport. 
Of their each successive generation, at each lecurring gathering of 
these .Sons and Daughters from whom the\' ma\ ha\e a\ ertetl the 
approach of death, ma\' it be said that thev weie more thouglilful f)i- 
the good i"ei)ule of tlu'ir Cit\' than f )r themsehes — -that the\- had the 
courage ot their convictions — that thev j^retcrred the temporary un- 
popularity that plain s]^eech is so sure to bring, to the plaudits of a 
careless multitude, and that in the consciousness that the descendants 
of those f)r whom the\- labored would call them blessed, they found 
tlieir reward. 



136 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

EIGHTEENTH REGUI.AR TOAST. 

Tlic Press — Its intlucnce is great ; may it always be exerted for 
good. 

RESPONSE BY HON. JOHN P. SANBORN. 

You ask me to speak for the Press of Newport. It speaks for it- 
st'lf. I'\)r more than a century and a quarter of our existence as a 
prosperous and cultiyated town and C'it\', the Press has been an im- 
]:)ort;nit factor in that cuhiyation and has aided in no mean propor- 
tions to that growth. We are often tokl of friends in disguise and 
as such the citizens of tin's fair Island of Rhode Island and the ad- 
joining Plantations ma\' \yell consider our neighbors ;icross our 
northern border in the good old Bay vStatc, where eyery faithful son 
is tauglit to belie\e rests tlie iuib of tlie uniyerse. They seni out 
from their number Roger Williams, the (^lakcr, to discoyer Rhode 
Island, and also established that hitherto unheard of doctrine of a 
]')erfect religious freedom, (^ur good puritanic fi^iends, less than a 
centur\- later, found another independent character \yho persisted in 
telling the truth, whicli not onl\- astounded but otleiided the natixes. 
And he. likewise, was ad\ised to migrate. Like a sensible man 
that he was. became to Newpoit. and in 1732 fames Franklin, the 
elder brother of that great statesmim ail i)hilos()pher, having left 
Massachusetts because he was not permitted to publish the truth 
in the New England Courant. set up his printing press in this good 
old to\yn. The Rhode Island (Gazette — the f( urth paper started in 
all iVmerica and the tliird then in existence, was the result of that 
banishnu'iit. Although this adyenture was short liyed, it makes this 
town I'le pioneer in the newspaper enterprise ot the United v'^^tates. 
Its field was large, but its circulation was limited, and it soon (bed 
a natural death. ^\ few \ears later the son, James, tlie Nounger. took 
Uj) the pen which the father had relin([uished, and in i/S^ ga\e to 
the world Newport's secoud newspaper. The Newport Mercur\-. 
I'roin that da\- to t!iis, Newport has not been without its paper. 

'Idle Press ol' Rhode Island, and of New])ort in ])articular. has 
alwa\s been the great cham])ion oi libertN . It has been we belie\e 
the pioneer in e\ei'\' good cause, where human progress and human 
rights, are at stake. In the earl\ conllict with tne mother countr\ . 
as in all the later contests for Ireedom. it spoke with no uncertain 
sound. More than fne years before the good Capt. l)a\ is and his 
little band of ])atriots stood b\ that rude bridge at Concord, " and 
Hred the shot heard round the world," the editor of the Newport 
]Mercur\ had hurled deliance in the teeth (^f King George b\ placing 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. 137 

at the head of his cohimns, tlic rcMiiarkablc motto, " Uiulauntcd by 
Tyrants we'll die or be Free," — a motto exceedini*- in plainness and 
daring anything- ever before adopted by paper or pe()]:)le. To 
Rhode Island belongs the honor of firing the first gnn in the great 
conflict of the Revolution. The aflairs of the Maidstone and the 
Gaspee both antedate the revolutionarv proceedings of any other 
state or colony. Her people were also the first by legislative enact- 
ments to ofier a solid opposition to the tvranny and oppression of 
the mother country. No little credit for this advanced patriotism is 
due to the firm stand taken In' that l)rave old hero, Solomon South- 
wick, and his able corps of assistants. 

The learned gentleman who has just preceded me has in an elo- 
quent manner told you of the distinguished sons of Esculapius who 
have in former days done honor to our " City-by-the-sea " by being 
born within its limits, or by adopting it as their home. I might, 
likewise, give you a long catalogue of bright and shining lights in 
our profession. Their names are fiimiliar to many of you. South- 
wick, Hall, Earlier and Jackson were men of more than ordinary 
endowments, and their works show that they could wield with vigor 
that sometimes dangerous weapon, the editorial quill. A quarter of 
a century ago, when the returning Sons and Daughters graced the 
festive board at the first Re-Union, tlie moving spirit in that great 
celebration, then occupving the chair which you do now. Mr. Mayor, 
was an honored member of our profession. The position which you 
so ably fill to-day, Mr. Toastmaster, \vas likewise graced by a mem- 
ber of the editorial fraternity. Mayor Cranston, the President of the 
Re-Union of 1S59. and Ma\or Atkinson, the Toastmaster, will long 
be remembered as two of Newport's brightest editorial writers, 
though entirely difterent in the style and character of their writings. 

But I will not weary you longer with the catalogue of my illustri- 
ous predecessors. When the history of this town shall be accu- 
rately written, their names will demand an important place on its 
roll of honor. As the Press of Newport has in the past been the 
great cham})ion of liberty, of progress, and of reform^sowe believe 
it to l)e to-day, and trust that in the l)right future that is before us it 
will be found true to the great principles which it has ever so forcibly 
inculcated, and which are the foundation and chief support of this 
great nation. 

NINETEENTH REGULAR TOAST. 

O^n' Public ScJiools — They are the pride of the past and the 
hope of the future. 



138 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

REPLY OF SUPERINTENDENT G. A. LITTLEFIELD. 

]\Ir. Toastmastcr^ Ladies and Gentlcnioi: — 

Whenever ;i true American considers the theme with which 1 
have been lionored in all its \ital relations to the phenomenal growth 
and prosperity of this country, he cannot fail to experience the most 
grateful emotions of honest pride in the past and of sanguine hope 
for the future. If this is true of Americans in general, how emphat- 
ically should it be true of every Son and Daughter of Newport, espe- 
cially on this doubly patriotic occasion, when it is remembered that 
the two grandest features of our national life, the two essential ele- 
ments of our civil government which if eliminated would leave us 
in disaster, namely, the free common school and American Independ- 
ence were both first born, so to speak, the one upon this lovely 
Island and the other upon the adjacent waters of our beautiful bay. 

Schools of other kinds, to be sure, had existed in the colonies be- 
fore 1640, but it is believed that the first free common school was 
established at that time under Robert Lenthal, in this City near the 
Middletown line. The ominous distant ruml)ling of the storm of 
the Revolution, too, had been gradually Hlling the western sky for 
years before those first bursts of resistance which preceded the Bos- 
ton Tea Party, and which occurred on the waters of Narragansett Bay. 
The ideas, moreover, underlying the free schools and the Fourth of 
July were nothing less than a divine inspiration to a whole recep- 
tive land, and, as is true throughout all history, it is dilficult to lo- 
cate a precise spot which may be called the birthplace of such a rev- 
elation. The meagre chi'oniclers of those early days, not realizing 
that in their efibrts for schools and for freedom they were enter- 
taining our guardian angels unawares, make but little mention of the 
matter, though now every community on the Atlantic coast, like the 
Seven Grecian cities that strove for Hoiner dead, 
Through which the living Homer begged his bread, 
every hamlet of the original settlements is diligent and proud to 
point a monumental finger towards its earliest possil)le etlorts for 
common schools and for political freedom. 

And out of all this research it is evident that if the two American 
divinities, etlucaticni and liberty, the only truly titled personages per- 
mitted on our shores, were asked to indicate one spot ahos c another 
on this continent, where they first saw the light, though the\' are 
about to be enthroned upon granite in New York harbor as the (iotl- 
dess of Liberty enlightening the world, still, if thc\- could speak, 
it is evident from the records and traditions that they would claim to 
be simply Daughters of our own Island Home. 



THE EXERCISES AT THE TENT. I39 

Let them return then to-day as our most distinguislicd o;ucsts on 
this quarter centennial occasion, and let them ever go before us as 
the pillar of cloud and fire inciting us to even greater deeds than 
have \ et been attained by oiu" proud little City. They confer on us 
by their presence a greater honor than we derive from all other 
sources, and if it is true that mind, rather than matter, alone survives 
the wreck of time, a fame more enduring than even the rocks upon 
our everlasting shores. 

Aye, let them return and stimulate us to the highest endeavor in 
public education, for the honor of having been the first to establish 
free schools entails upon this City the responsibility of ever keeping 
them foremost in point of excellence. In the past, this responsil)ility 
has been well discharged, and, for the present, being a recent comer 
among you, I may modestly express my conviction, that the New- 
port school system, from the kindergarten in its naturalness, up to 
the Rogers Higii School in its strength, whether we consider the 
scholarship and fidelity of the teachers, the earnestness of the pupils, 
or the interest ami devotion of the patrons, is one which in its devel- 
opment has kept full j^ace with the most ambitious element of the 
City's progress, and one of which any city Alight be justly proud. 

And yet if our schools are destined to maintain their foremost 
place in the march of progress, they must not lose step with the ad- 
vancing tread of otlier cities. It is not safe in school aflairs to follow 
exclusively the maxim of precedent. There is not a single depart- 
ment of school work that can attain tlie most vigorous development 
under a supervision actuated by the willingness sometinies expressed 
to me in different quarters to "• let things go on as they always have 
gone." If the schools had already reached perfection or if they were 
a cemetery, such a principle might be judiciously followed, but they 
are not, they are a living, sacred trust to be discharged in the full 
blaze of all the most recent light. Their trustees must be only the 
soundest of men, vigilant to forbid every form of flighty experiment- 
ing, never adopting the new solely because it is new, and yet ever on 
the alert to embrace the first beams of all those great undoul)ted im- 
provements that are now appearing at frec|uent intervals above the 
school horizon. Common schools, excellent as they are, are not yet 
half way up the eminence of their possible attainment. The next 
twenty-five years will see their present efliciency doubled in many 
places that are now foremost. May God grant that Newport when 
next she calls home her Sons and Daughters may be as justl\ proud, 
as she is to-da\ , ui her ad\anced position in the possession of com- 
mon schools. 



140 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



The last toast had now been offered ; the last response had 
been made. During the delivery of some of the addresses 
it was observed that a glistening moisture filled man}?^ an eye, 
while not a few of the Sons and Daughters whose grey locks 
told how near they were to the end of life's career could 
scarcely conceal the emotion which the utterances of several 
of the speakers produced within them. It was a solemn mo- 
ment, which was passed in silence, ere the Toastmaster arose 
for the last time. Was there one among the still large assem- 
blage wdio was not mentally asking the question, shall I be 
here at the next Re-Union? It is thought not. 

At last the time for parting had arrived. There was an al- 
most painful stillness as every one present listened with the 
most intense interest to 

THE TOASTMASTEr's CLOSING WORDS. 

The exercises of the afternoon are now conchuled, and the hour of 
parting lias come. I trust you ha\e heartily enjoyed the pleasant 
humor of reminiscent story, the tender pathos of the poetic offerings, 
and the stirring eloquence which old memories of Newport have 
evoked from the hearts of her loyal Sons. On Ijehalf of our City I 
wish you a hearty Godspeed on your homeward journeys, and trust 
that as many as have life and health continued will meet with us at 
the Re-Union of twenty-five years hence. 





— — — 




ift, ■* 


~ 






Ji 




-^f#^ 




FORTY STEPS. 



CHAPTER X. 



THE evening's FESTIVITIES. 

Great, gre}' banks of 
^^ ! mist, surmounted by 
black, ominous thunder 
^^^ clouds, rolled in after 
^' the tired feasters as 
they hurried homeward 
in the gathering twi- 
light. Already in va- 
rious parts of the Cit}', 
gleamed, at intervals, 
the fiery trains of fire- 
works as the}' shot, 
hissing, into the air; 
the most brilliant dis- 
plavs about the Cliffs 
being upon the grounds 
of ^iiss C. L. Wolte, 
Mr. George Peabody 
Wetmore, and Mrs. J. 
V. L. Pru3n. 
SPOUTING ROCK. Thousauds, there- 

fore, imagining from these private illuminations that the City's 
programme would be carried out, stationed themselves upon 
yachts, wharves, and public and private buildings, and, in 
short, in everv available spot commanding a view of the harbor. 
Already, despite the fog that settled over the City shortly after 
six o'clock, strings of colored lanterns began to disperse the 
gloom in all directions and gleam faintly from on high. Every- 
where preparations for the most elaborate illumination and cele- 
bration were being made. The Committee were in a quandary. 
To omit this portion of the programme would cause a crushing 
disappointment, while carrying it out would entail upon the 
multitude, in all probability, a thorough drenching with rain. 




142 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

At seven o'clock the fog settled heavier. The Committee 
and spectators were in despair. But the weather prophet 
predicted that it would lift soon, and, true enough, at eight 
o'clock tlie moon was again visible, and the preparations for 
the fireworks were actively carried forward. The yachtsmen 
brought their fireworks up on deck, and arranged lanterns 
and lights, in the most picturesque way imaginable, over their 
graceful craft. Tiie Committee's barge \\'a8 stationed near 
Ferry wharf and was perpetualU^ revealed by the continuous 
display of pyrotechnics that rose from its deck. Answering 
salutes shot in flaming paths from the wharves near at hand, 
and from the yachts and smaller pleasure craft darting here 
and there over the waters. Anon, nuisses ot red flame would 
burst forth from one or anotiier point suffusing the surroundings 
in a rosy glow, in which the spars, masts, and hulls of the 
vessels and the heavier outlines of the neighboring buildings 
pressed out, as it were, in bold relief against the black back- 
ground. Over the fire-tipped waves streamed, also, a broad 
band of silvery light, that poured from the electric reflector 
at the Torpedo Station. Here, shining with the clear radiance 
of the brightest moonlight, it brought out a building in the 
most vivid and entrancing way from the surrounding gloom ; 
there, a faintlv discernible group of spectators seemed sud- 
denly to spring out in the most startling way from the envelop- 
ing darkness. But grandest of all was the effect of the 
electricity reflected upon the surging waters as they shot in 
large volumes into the air, the masses of spray sparkling with 
a brilliancy not to be fi)und in the most costly of gems. This 
upheaval of the waters of the inner harbor was caused bj' the 
torpedoes so kindly prepared and exploded imder the direc- 
tion of the Commandant of the Torpedo Station. The display 
was simply magnificent while it lasted. 

Suddenly, shortly after nine, great, heavy drops came 
splashing down, pattering out a warning. The judicious 
fled to shelter ; but hundreds, learning that the fireworks were 
only half expended, disregarded the admonition, though much 
to their cost, iiowever, when a few moments later the mighty 
downpour came, thoroughly drenching the crowds as they 



THE EVENINGS FESTIVITIES. I43 

rushed helter-skelter for protection. The warehouses were 
crowded with wet, bedrag^'led, drear}' and disgusted sight- 
seers. The steamboats at the wharves careened well-nigh to 
their gunwales as the passengers sought the leeward side for 
shelter. The electric rays, in their shifting path, still Hooded 
the City with calm radiance, and gave a weird, fantastic ap- 
pearance to the deluge, lighting up the falling drops and 
rising clouds of spray with rainbow hues. The lines of lan- 
terns upon Thames Street, so strikingly beautiful in the early 
evening, flickered feebly, as they struggled to hold their own, 
dropping at last with a sputter one by one into the muddy 
streams below, till nothing but the supports remained. 

Later, many pedestrians, in heavy wraps, dashed along 
the streets in the blinding rain, past the brightly illuminated 
windows of the shops and offices, towards the beacon lights 
in those of the State House. Here was exhibited a handsome 
flag, bearing the figures of an Indian and a sailor with those 
of an eagle and a shield between them, the latter with the 
word " Excelsior," loaned by Mayor Edson, of New York, 
to Mr. W. G. Peckham, the chairman of the delegation from 
that City. Without, the rain drove men apart; within, its in- 
fluence brought them nearer and closer than ever belbre, amid 
congenial spirits and surroundings. 

In the Representatives Chamber the Sons and Daughters 
from New York had arranged for a reception in honor of their 
Newport friends. Despite the pitiless elements two or three 
hundred brave hearts were gathered there to enjoy the hand- 
shaking and listen to the happy, apt sentences which fell 
from the lips of a score or more gentlemen, whom the genial 
Chairman of the Reception Committee, Mr. Philander Shaw, 
introduced in turn to the large assemblage. Qiiickly did 
meniorv unite the golden links that bound the present with the 
past; quickly did the recollection of many an aged one pres- 
ent flash down the long years to the spring-time of life to those 
possessions of the heart that can never flee or be forgotten; 
that neither guilt nor passion can ever blot out. Those mem- 
ories of an early home, where he had frolicked away the 



144 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



happy hours with their " gay dreams, cloudless skies, visions 
of hliss, and glorious happiness ;" of loving faces, " long gone 
with all their smiles and tears," that in childhood's days beamed 
out from the antique windows ; memories, in fact, that will 
reproduce for him on the verge of eternity, " the freshness of 
emotion, of life and desire, with which existence on earth be- 
gan." Deeply moved by such overmastering emotions, and 
stirred by the evidences of fellow feeling on the part of his 
hearers, is it any wonder that the sentiments uttered smacked 
of delightful reminiscence and touching tales of " Auld Lang 
Syne." 

This reception, then, held by the prodigals from New York 
proved to be the concluding feature of the programme of exer- 
cises of the great Re-Union day. The thoughts of many pres- 
ent wandered away into the dim, doubtful future ; the eyes of 
old and young alike were suffused with sympathetic moisture as 
hand was extended to hand and " good-nights" were spoken ; 
the aged ones turned many a time to take what might prove to 
them a farewell glance at the interior of the Chamber so re- 
nowned in history's pages, and when, finall}^ hosts and guests 
wended their way through the still fiercely driving rain to 
their temporary abodes and homes, there was a tinge of sad- 
ness hovering over the majority of hearts. A rather mourn- 
ful ending, it might be said, to a hearty, joyful occasion ; but 
is not the source of laughter ever very near to that of tears? 




KJ.UWOUiJ J.ILJKARY. 



CHAPTER XI. 



AFTER THE DAY. 

The glad 
Re-Union day, 
with its attend- 
ant exercises 
and its inci- 
dents, had 
passed : it be- 

—_ longed to his- 
tory. Under 
ordinary cir- 
cumstances the 
drench in o" rain 
s t o r m \v i t h 
which, meteor- 
ologically, the 
day closed, 
wo u 1 d have 
dampened the 

gtJ ardor and ren- 
dered spiritless 
a 1 m o s t any 
crowd of hu- 
,^ man beings. 

CHANNING MEMORIAL CHURCH But the OCCa- 

sion that brought together in Newport the vast multitude of 
people, on the day in question, was by no means an ordinary 
one ; it was one that had been the outcome of the best and 
purest motives and the result of the most unselfish labor put 
forth by those concerned in it ; it was an occasion that devel- 
oped much joy, and that, too, without a tinge of bitterness. 




146 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

T^ittle wonder, then, need be expressed at the statement that 
the violence of the rain storm did not draw tVom tliose in New- 
port who chanced to become acquainted with its dampening 
etll'cts, the usu;d grumblings consequent upon sucii temporary 
discomfort. There was nothing of this kind heard, but, on 
the contrary, despite the dilllculties encoimtered and incon- 
venience experienced by pedestrians in their etlbrts to get from 
place to i")lace, the \'arious thoroughfares resounded with 
cheery sounds ; indeed observation from mnnerous points 
proved that the rule was — the heavier the rain the louder the 
lauirhter. Time and time a<*;ain has this tact been dwelt 
upon. 

But, it will naturally be asked, why were these people out 
at all? The answer is very simple, and is, that there were 
hundreds upon hundreds of indi\'iduals in town who could not, 
for the historic price, love or money, obtain lodgings at those 
jilaces, where, ordinaril}', they can be had. 

Fortunatel}' the rain did not continue during the whole of 
the night, else not a few who were absoluteh' compelled to seek 
the friendly shelter of coal and wood sheds, or to rest upon 
the doorsteps of houses along the streets, would have had 
a still stninger experience, than proved to be theirs, to relate 
when they reached their homes. A more hearty, io3'ous con- 
course of visitors, under all the circumstances, could not 
possibh' be imagined. It was evident that one and all came 
to Newport with a fixed purpose, namel}-, to participate in 
the pleasures which a re-union such as was had would bring 
forth, and to permit nothing to mar their perfect enjoyment 
of the day. 

^riie general conduct of the thousands of visitors was exem- 
plary in the extreme. When it is remembered that, for the 
dav, the jiopulation of the Cit\' was more than doubled, the 
fact that there was nothing in the deportment of any one 
but what challenged admiration is most extraordinary. The 
historian ol" the Re-Union of 1859 <-'oncluded his story of 
that memorable occasion with these four really remarkable 
statements : 



AFTER THE DAY. 



147 



1. There was more provision prepared than even the \ast com- 
pany could use, and all of it good. 

2. There was not an accident or disturbance. 

3. There was not, so far as is known, a single pocket ]Mcked. 

4. There were not any arrests, nor the necessit\' foran\'. 

The people of the present generation are more active, less 
conservative, and, probably, not more discreet in their con- 
duct, than those of a quarter of a century ago. Therefore 
the lact is even more remarkable that, with reference to the de- 
portment of citizens and visitors, the same pleasant condition 
ol things existed on July 4, 1884, as was experienced on 
August 23, 1859. Not a disturbance, no arrests and no neces- 
sity for any, no dishonest act performed ! This sim-jile fact 
stands as the most deeply signiticant feature, and will ever 
be treasured as a priceless memento, of a great da\- and a 
grand event. 

The dovvn-ji()uring of heaven's dew on tlie night of the 
Fourth, intertered, as has been stated, with the displax of lire- 
works which had been arranged for by the Ke-lniion Com- 
mittee. This was a source of deep regret all around, both for 
the Committee and the visitors, for it was desired that as many 
as possible should witness the blaze ol" giorv with w hich the 
Re-Union managers intended the dny should end. When, 
after the discharge in the harbor of a portion of the fireworks, 
it was evident that no gratitication would be atlbrded by a con- 
tinuation of the display, Chairman Stanhope, of the Commit- 
tee on Illuminations, exercised a wise discretion in postponino- 
the remaining part of the programme, and determined to 
change the scene from the lovely waters of Narragansett Bay 
to the delightful surroundings of Tonro Park. The weather 
was not particularly propitious for several days, and the result 
was that the Re-Union festivities were not finally concludi-d 
until about the middle of the week following the great event. 
Then the grand p} rotechnic disi-)lay, and sweet music from a 
couple of bands, brought to a lifting close the programme which 
the Committee had arranged. 

A few days afterwards the attention of the Committee was 



148 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

directed to a serious, yet, withal, pleasant duty, namely, that 
of meeting their financial obligations. The expenses of the 
Re-L'uion had been very heavy, but not so burdensome as to 
preclude the possibilit}' of their being promptly met. It had 
been the desire of the Committee to call upon the Cit}' for 
nothincf more than the eiohteen hundred dollars which had 
originally been appropriated, yet, while citizens and summer 
residents alike had been \'ery generous, it was found that the 
subscriptions were not sufficient to gratify this wish of the 
managers, and. theretbre, it became absolutely necessary to 
ask the Cit}' Council for a portion of the amount provided for 
by the special act of the Legislature which has heretolbre been 
referred to. The action of the Committee is indicated in the 
following communication presented by Mayor Franklin to 
the City Council : 

City of Newport, R. I., | 

ExEcuxn'E Department, Aug. stli, 1SS4. ) 

Goitlcnioi of the City Coiiucil : — 

Tlie Re-Uniou of the Sons and Dau^htLis of Newport, on the 
fourth of July, proxed a most successful atfair, and reHected credit 
upon the Committee liaving the matter in charge. I have this day 
received a comminiication from the Secretary of the General Com- 
mittee, enclosing a copy of ;i resolution passed by said Conmiittee, 
at a meeting lield August 4, 1SS4, as foiJDWs: 

"Resolved, That the City Ci)inicil be respectfully requested to 
make an additional apj^ropiiation ot flight llundied and Seventy- 
Six Dollars and Ninetx-.Seven Cents ($876.97), to meet the ex- 
penses incurred by the recent Re-Union." 

From the expressions of pleasure and satistaction that ha\e been 
made hy the citizens in relation to the celebration, i have no tlouht 
the\ will cheeitulb endorse an\ action \<)u take ordeiin^^ the pay- 
ment of the amount. 

Roh't. S. Franklin, 

Mayor. 

After the comminiication had been dealt with in the cus- 
tomar\- manner, the City Council took action upon the mat- 
ter as follows : — 



AFTER THE DAY. 



149 



RESOLUTION OF THK CIT\' COUNCIL. 

[Passed Au<^ust 5, 1884.] 

Resolved, That the sum of $876.97 l>e and said amount is lierebv 
a])])i()priated and added to the amount heretofore aj^proprialed for 
the I'\)urlh of July Re-Union, making- altooether $2,676.97, and the 
City Treasurer is herehy authorized to pay the whole amount of 
said appropriation to tlie order of Charles T. Hopkins, Treasurer 
of the General Connnittee of Arranoements for the Re-Union. 

Later on it became necessary to ask the Council for still 
one more appropriation, the amount of which is indicated in 
the lollowino- exhibit which shows the expenses of the Re- 
Union and how they were met. 

FINANCL\L STATEINIENT. 

Total expenses of the Re-Union, v$!:;,986 97 

The receipts were 

May 4. .Vppropiiatioii by City Council, $[,800 00 

Contributions, '^'-'^4 so 

Aug. 5. Appropriation by City Couneil, 876 97 

Final Appropriation by Cit}- Couneil, 45 50 



$5,986 97 

The admirable manner in which the linancial part of the 
Re-Union labors was managed by Chairman Langley and the 
other members of his Committee tully entitled tiiem to the 
expressions of thanks which came from the members of the 
General Committee. In this connection, too, it should be 
stated tiiat the arduous duties of the Treasurer, Aldernum 
Hopkins, merited and gained litting recognition iVom the en- 
tire Committee. 

The last meeting of the Re-Union Committee was held on 
the evening of August 4th, v\dien there was quite a lull attend- 
ance. As the routine work was disposed of and it became ap- 
parent that the members were, in a brief time, to disperse to 
meet no more, otiicialh', a feeling of sadness grew upon 
every one present. The Committee had been engaged in 
a most laudable undertaking and their edbrts had been 
crowned with success. But they did not like to part; indeed 



150 THK NEWPORT RE-UNION. 

for quite a while the members indulged in recounting many 
pleasant incidents of the Re-Union day. 

At last Alderman Langley arose, and, after a few well 
chosen words expressive of the appreciation felt by the mem- 
bers of the Committee for the efforts of the Chairman and 
Secretar}', otlered the following resolution : 

RcsoKed, That the host thiinks of the Coiniuiltee of the Re- 
Unioii of iS8,|, are clue, and are liereh\ tendered, to Alderman lolin 
Waters, their Cliaii'nian, and Mr. Frank G. Harris, their Secretary, 
for the \erv efficient manner in wliicli they have performed their re- 
specti\e duties in connection with die celebration so recentl\ held 
here, and towards the success of which the\- contributed in such a 
marked degree. 

The resolution was unanimousl}' adopted and Chairman 
Waters acknowledged the courtesy, briefly but sincerely. 
The Secretary, in thanking the Committee for their great kind- 
ness in passing such a resolution, said that ^^'hile he had 
labored earnestly for the success ot the Re-Lbiion, it would 
be most unbecoming in him to permit that meeting to be 
brought to an end without expressing his deep gratitude to 
every member of the Committee, and particularly to the gentle- 
men composing the Correspondence Comnnttee with whom 
he had been the more frequently brought in contact, for the un- 
varying support they had at all times given him in his efforts 
to assist in bringing about a satisfactory termination of the 
great undertaking. 

With these formalities the labors ot the Committee came to 
an end. Nothing remained to be done but to pass a motion 
to adjourn antl this having been accomplished the Committee 
of the Re-Union of 1884 ^idjourned sine die. 



CHAPTER XII. 



CONCLUSION. 



While inakiiiL;" a tew 
closing remarks in ref- 
erence to such a grand 
and significant event 
as the Re-Union of '84, 
there is no intention ot 
nlilizing the ample and 
frnitful opportunity al- 
lorded by it to 

l'..int :i moral ami a.l..ni a tal.-, 

but rather to leaxe this 
jiri\ilege to the intelli- 
gent and discriminat- 
ing common-sense ot 
each one present, and 
onl\' gi\'e e.\})ression 
to a query that has 
from time to time 
presst'd for utterance 
during the penning of 
these pages, and whicli 
is, Why let another 
quarter of a centur\' 
TKiMTv cnrurii. slip by belore again 

re-uniting? Why should the wanderers tarry from home 
another twenty-live years? Why be absent more than a 
decade ? 

x\ll who are well along in years will admit that as youth 
strides into manhood and manhood totters into old age, more 
and more pleasing and refreshing becomes the habit ot halt- 
ing on life's journey and " looking backward" over its path- 




152 THE NEWPORT RE-UNION, 

wavs — none of them, it must be confessed, too profvisely 
strewn with the " queen of flowers." To the septuagenarian 
the greater part presents but a dreary, monotonous prospect 
of a hard, well-fought uphill struggle for food, lame, or for- 
tune, enlivened here and there by a good deed or a " red- 
letter" day ; but memory, coursing back through dim, well- 
nigh torgotten years, rejoices in the contemplation of those 
bright, childhood scenes, fraught as they were with the most 
precious and lasting joy. Then the soul, free from care and 
uncontracted by toil, expanded to receive, with a truth and an 
intensity never again equalled, impressions of the great, throb- 
bing life abf)ut it. These are the pictures, mellowed in color- 
ing and softened in outline, that memory delights to retrace. 
Dear as these are to the aged, of far greater \alue, olten, 
are they to the erring one who stoj^s and turns sharpl}- at 
the chance recollection of an early sisterly influence, of open- 
hearted, sincere companions, of stern, though reliable, fatherly 
advice, of a kind, motherh' tace, and, too, ot the precepts 
and prayers learned from the gentle parent's lijis in the long 
ago. 

Yet, pleasing as it is to dwell iq^on these mental scenes, how 
much more so is it to re-visit those that gave them existence 
i\n(] revive again a faint glow of that enthusiasm with wiiich 
they were lirst observed? And here, again, is a weight}-, 
though, perhajis, somewhat sentimental argument for more 
frequent re-unions. Man}- oi' those aged ones who gathered 
here on the last anniversary of the nation's birth, iiad been 
absent for a tpiarter of a century and not a few for a half 
centvu'y. The\- sought in vain tor traces of tliat earl\- life, 
of those crooked lanes, and blooming, well-remembered tields ; 
they tbund them all gone — gone forever. Many who had 
been prodigals but for a decade found numerous tamiliar fea- 
tures, of the Newport they used to know, sjiared from the 
ruthless innovating hand and the corroding breath of time. 

Such scenes, it may be stated here, as were deemed most 
conspicuous and characteristic of the old City, together with 
several illustrating notable changes, and others, preserving 



CONCLUSION. 153 

for recollection landmarks now swept away, have been given 
a place in these pages as suggestive of the most precious 
acquisitions from the recent Re-LInion. 

In conclusion, then, what method, more ennobling from its 
associations, more invigorating from the companionship of 
kindred spirits, more gratifying tVom its imparting joy to 
others, than a re-union of parent and child, brother and sister, 
and companions of youth, can there be of taking that rest, 
brief though it be, besought of the American people by poet, 
philosopher, pulpit, and press? True, it finally creates a 
paintul void in the hearts of those remaining here, and gives 
greater and greater insistence to that query — which ever arises 
as one remembers the Re-Union wave that, sweeping about 
the w^ld with ever increasing intensity, extended far over 
the Pacific and across the mighty Atlantic, and surged from 
the ocean tide of humanity for one brief moment into this little 
corner of the earth and then, alas ! ebbed with its thousands 
at the next — when to meet again? 



FORT DUMPLINGS. 




LIMK KOCK. 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE OFFICIAL REGISTER. 

Below is iriven a lull list of the names of those Sons and 
Danghters who returned to participate in the Re-Union fes- 
tivities, and who registered at the several places indicated in 
a previous chapter. 

NEW YORK CITY. 



W. G. Peckham, 
H. J. Bi-ightman, 
Sarah Taber, 
George H. Taber, 
A. W. Swan, 
George T. Finch, 
J. P. Underwood, 
T. W. Sherman, 
Edward \V. Gould, 
E. W. Gould, Jr., 

D. J. Gould, 

A. Manton Chace, 
John G. McCormick, 
Frank Walker, 
P. G. Muenchinger, 
Mrs. A. M. Chace, 
Willie Murphy, 
Daniel McGowan, 
P. F. McGowan, 

E. K. Sackett, 
Thomas J. Medlen, 
Mrs. E. W. Gould, 
Mrs. Eliza R. Gould, 
Thomas Cremin, 

Mrs. Charles Taylor Babcock, 



Richard D. Langley, 
Miss Emily Vernon, 
John W. Gibson, 
Edward H. ]5abcock, 
Rev. M. A. Nolan, 
James Brooks, 
Edmund White, 
Henry Bowen Lawton, 
Thos. D. Thompson, 
James A. Hammond, 
A. Mahony, 
John R. Caswell, 
Annie E. Caswell, 
Lizzie H. Caswell, 
Maude Caswell, 
Mrs. Capt. John Taylor, 
M. E. Taylor, 
Francis Lawton, 
Thomas Cremin, 
R. Galley, 
U. C. Allen, 
Jas. Hazard Wilson, 
T. H. Hazard, 
Helen A. Taylor, 
T. H. Howard, 



THE OFFICIAL REGISTER. 



155 



George L. Wilcox, 
Natiian L. Murphj, 
W. T. Sherman, 
Samuel T. Melvill, 
Mrs. Samuel T. Melvill, 
Miss M. Katie Melvill, 
P. John Downing, 
Dr. H. T. Coggeshall, 
J. B. Tompkins, 
G. Wm. Ailman, 
Leander A. Peckham, 
Mrs. Robert P. Glass, 
Robert P. Glass, 
Mrs. R. D. Langlej, 
Mrs. Antiie Gronani, 



Elisha M. Billington, 
William A. Williams, 
Mrs. P. A. McCormick, 
J. W. Downing, 
Mrs. J. W. Downing, 
Annie L. Downing, 
Wm. A. Lincoln, 
Joseph Irish, 
Geo. H. Downing, 
V. M. Oljphant, 
A. Peabodj, 
Stuyvesant LeRoy, Jr., 
D. LeRo\- Dresser. 
Mrs. M. n. Aldrieh, 
P. Sweeney. 



BROOKLYN, N. V 



Cornelius Wilbour, 
Clarence Vose, 
Mrs. W. H. Slocum, 
H. T. Mars, 
T. F. McCormick, 
Frank W. Stanley, 
Ira N. Stanley, 
William II. Slocum, 
Carrie Card, 
Philander Shaw, 
B. H. Stevens, Jr., 
Walter Nichols, 
John P. Nichols, 
Benjamin II. Lawton, 
Robert C. Taylor, 
Harry Bull, 



Mrs. R. Shannon, 

Ada F. Bliss, 

M. P. Mallon, 

S. J. Mallon, 

William E. Chambers, 

Abby P. Lawton, 

Mrs. J. M. Boker, 

Frank B. Chase, - 

Mrs. S. Hopkins, 

William T. Brown, 

Albert Draper, 

Mrs. James C. Robinson, 

Mrs. William T. Brown, 

Charles M. Bull, 

J. L. Northam, 

Ann Trundv Stanlev. 



BOSTON, INIASS. 



John H. Swan, 

Edward H. Thurston, 

Carrie A. Woods, 

Lizzie E. Elli.s, 

P. C. Chase, 

Hazard Ste\ens, 

James Lawton, 

Miss Gertrude Maude Stevens, 

W. B. Bryer, 

Fred H. Moore, 

Caroline C. Heath, 

Walter Mott, 



J. T. Landers, 
Mrs. J. C. Landers, 
George H. Marsh, 
S. W. Bush, 
Philip B. Downing, 
C. A. McCormick, 
Georgenia F. Downin; 
Henry C. Davenport, 
Mrs. Mary Carter, 
Grace A. Lewis, 
E. A. Lewis, 
William B. Caswell, 



156 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



Ilonricttii Mott, 

Chai-les C. Carrasco, 

Mrs. Charles C. Carrasco, 

Mrs. Henry Brown, 

Elizabeth Ilammett, East Boston, 

Mrs. Caroline L. Fales, East Boston, 

C. C. Peirce, 

Clara P. Boss, 

Carrie Boss Thomson, 

Dr. J. T. Sherman, 

Thomas Downing, 

T. H. Ellis, " 

Stejihen S. Ward. 

William Cutler, 

William C. Langley, Jr., 

Robert P. Boss, 

George Clarke, 

Harriet C. Nowell, 

Ethel K. Simes, 

H. B. Thayer, 

Arthur Hazard, 

Harry R. Palmer, 

H. M. Barker, 

G. E. Ambrose, 

H. G. Haney, 

Phebe McCarty, 

John H. Dougherty, 

D. E. Harrington. 

Frank E. Nicolai, 

Mrs. E. C. Shak, 



Mrs. Mary S. Gould, 
Mrs. S. Browning, 
F. Buttondof, 
Mrs. F. Buttondof, 
Charles Sherman, 
Sally F. Irish, 
George W. Weeden, 
W. G. Peabody, 
Mrs. W. (;. Peaboily. 
Ella Peabody, 
Ann H. I'eabody, 
Lena Peabod\', 
Florence L. Peabod\-, 
Elisha Peckham, 
F. H. Hodges, 
Mrs. F. M. Smith, 



Rebecca M. Downing, 
S. C. Potter, 
Mrs. S. C. Potter, 
Mrs. S. W. Gray, 
Robert S. Covell, 
Mrs. Robert S. Covell, 
Stephen Bowen, 
Stephen Bowen, Jr., 
Elizabeth M. Cottrell, 
Mrs. E. M. Collins, 
Katherine E. Collins, 
E. F. Shirk, 
Joshua Hammond, 
John R. Brownell, 
Rebecca E. Brownell, 
Nannie E. Brownell, 
Samuel L. Decker, 
Mrs. L. M. Decker, 
John 1). Washburn. 
S. P>rown, 
Charles Brown, 
Mabel L. Fairbanks, 
A. P. Fairbanks, 
Cordelia De Mortie, 
Irene De Mortie, 
Louise L. J. De Mortie, 
Olivia Ellis, 
Lizzie S. Babcock, 
Robert G. Babcock, 
John Lvnch. 



PROVIDENCE, R. I, 

B. L. Burdick, 
Nellie Burdick, 
Edward G. Peabody, 
Emily R. Babcock, 
Adelaide I. Field, 
F. B. Babcock, 
William B. ]. Menage, 
(Jilbert Deblois, 
Martha Deblois, 
Martha Deblois, 
Mary Deblois, 
Mrs. Cjcorge (Jibson 
William B. Rider, 
Conrad C. Ellery, 
Samuel P. Cruis, 
Annie E. Cruis, 



THE OFFICIAL REGISTER. 



157 



W. H. Bryer, 

Henry H. Burrous^hs, 

Albert Jillson, 

Edwin A. Barker, 

Mary Whittier, (Roberts) 

Henry A. Howhmci, 

D. L. Burden, 

Mrs. Nellie Burden, 

Mrs. C. H. Jernegan, 

G. H. Mancbester, 

Mrs. M. J. Mancbester, 

L. A. Barker, 

Fannie H. Barker, 

George Edward Allen, 

Mrs. George Edward Allen, 

Theodore A. Barton, 

Mrs. Annie L. (Weaver) Chase, 

Col. P. S. Chase, 

Wendall C. Hudson, 

J. Burdick Kinney, 

John E. Bowen, 

Mrs. John E. r>owen, 

Peleg Clarke, 

Mary T. Clarke, 

Hattie S. Strowbridge, 

William H. McCormiek, 

Lizzie P. Moulton, 

Henry O. T. Cameron, 

Mary F. Bidet, 

Philip R. Weaver, 

Mrs. Capt. C. H. Salisbury, 

Mrs. John C l^avis, 

Thomas C. Mum ford, 

Benjamin Mumford, 

Freeborn Coggeshall, 

Abby A. Coggeshall, 

Joshua W. Tripp, 

William L. Williams, 

Mrs. Mary A. Campbell, 

Thomas E. Ash, 

Mary E. Ash, 

Annie G. Ash, 

M. O'Brien, 

Joseph Hudson, 

Joseph E. Handy, 

H. H. Munro, 

George F. Barny, 

Mrs. Handy, 



George E. Hubbard, 
Mrs. George E. Hubbard, 
Thomas L. Sherman, 
George P. Cimierford, 
William H. Williams, 
Mrs. William H. Williams, 
Miss Belle Baker, 
William C. Barton, 
Belle J. Hazard, 
Wilbur Hazard, 

Mrs. George W. Weeden, 
Jennie T. Irwin. 
F. H. Smith, 
Moses P. Forkey, 
John E. Burroughs, 
James E. Johnston, 
Duncan S. McDougald. 
James W. F. Allen, 

Edward H. Burroughs, 

Alice N. Burroughs, 

H. D. Langworthy, 

M. P. C Langworthy, 

Robert Carlisle, 

Mrs. S. E. Shaw. 

M. M. Wilson. 

M. M. Carlisle, 

Clarissa S. Linsey, 

Mrs. George F. Barney. 

Katie J. L. Eddy, 

Sarah C. Russt'ij, 

Stephen Aibro, 

Orland Freeborn, 

James N. Thornton, 

Samuel P. (Cladding, 

Martin J. Shea. 

Fred W. Brown, 

Rose McCormiek, 

Phebe A. McCormiek, 

Mattie M. Darling, 

Henrv V. Swan, 

Eliza T. Swan, 

Lillian M. Swan, 

Mrs. Mary K. Stalker, 

John B. Smith. 

Eliza Smith, 

Thos. B. Rawson, 

Mrs. T. B. Rawson, 

Edwin Scott, 



158 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



Edward E. Handj, 

Mrs. E. Handy, 

John A. Vaiii^lin, 

Mrs. J. A. Vauo-hn, 

Goo. W. Brainan, 

VV. John Tillej, 

C. H. Tillej, 

Mrs. C. II.Tillev, 

G. A. Sa\er, 

Mrs. G. A. Saver. 

Elizabeth T. Budlong, 

Elizabeth C. Endlong, 

Mrs. M. S. Whipple, 

Stephen 1). Gowdv. 
T. G. Peabod.v, 
Geo. A. Gibson, 
E. C. Anderson, 
G. F. Thornton, 
N. A. Thornton, 
E. C Cuminerford, 
Jas. Gibson, 
Thos. Gould, 
Mrs. S. E. Carlisle, 
Eniilv N. Wilbor, 
Maria II. VVillbor, 
Emma C. (iowdy, 
Clara B. Wood, 
Franees J. Black, 
Mrs. Mary C. King, 
Adeline Cilines, 
Mrs. Jas. A. I'hornton, 
Jf)lin S. I'alniei-, 
Raehel T. Palmer. 
Franees iM. Palmer, 
(ierlrude 1!. Ambrose, 
Louisa Ambrose. 
Lyd ia Fenner, 
Silas H. Manchester, 
Silas W. Albro, 
M. G. Leach, 
Maltie C. luUh-, 
Joim 11. Regan, 
Walter II. Manchester, 
Mrs. Walter II. Manchestei 
Miss Cjraee I. Davis, 
Samuel E. Read, 
Maria M. Read. 
Walter de F. Brown, 



Minnie Qj^iinton, 
E. C. Hubbard, 
A. P. Field, 
George B. Carr, 
Howard K. Gladding, 
Thomas SmiUi, 
Mary Ann Malles, 
Charles H. Smith, 
John H. Cottrell, 
Sarah J. Cottrell, 
Edmund A. Cottrell, 
R. A. }?in-gess, 
Mrs. L. E. Gray, 
Ida L. Perkins, 
John Winthrop Gale, 
Mrs. John Winthrop Gale, 
Christopher P>. Little, 
Mns. Christopher B. Little, 
William E. M. Little, 
Mrs. II. C. Wood, 
F'ranees M. Wood. 
Alexander M. Bliven. 
Sarah T. Wilbor Bliven, 
Wm. F. Lawton, 
Mrs. Mary E. Talbot, 
Miss Adela Robinson, 
Fred. H. Dimond, 
Alex. B. Gladding, 
Mrs. E. E. Anthony, 
Edwin E. Anthony, 
H. R. Freelove, 
Eleanor E. GolTe, 
David II. Weeden, 
Mrs. Sarah C. Weeden, 
Miss Nina C. Weeden, 
Henry B. Oxx, 
John M. Bates, 
Mary E. Bates, 
Harriet N. Thornton, 
John Cranston I)a\is, 
Salmon Wheaton Davis, 
Mrs. Pamelia Akirich, 
Mrs. Harry B. Oxx, 
Remington Shei-man. 
Irvin Atkinson, 
IIenr\' (jitlord, 
Chas. H. Mumford, 
Margaret Cornell, 



THE OFFICIAL RFGISTER. 



159 



Mattie T. Brown, 
Mrs. E. A. P'orkej, 
Mark A. Ilerrick, 
Frank P. Gladding, 
Margie Saver, 
Laura Sayer, 
Louis C. G. Lavvton, 
L. J. Shaw, 
Ann (j. Tilley, 
Mrs. F. M. Smith, 
Mrs. T. R. Spencer, 
J. H. Patterson, 
Mrs. J. H. Patterson, 
Mrs. William Warner, 
Mrs. John Pearson, 
Mary E. Brown, 
Richard J. Newton, 
Eva R. Newton, 
Mrs. Anna E. Kenson. 
Miss A. F. Kenyon, 
Joseph A. Townsend, 
F. L. Townsend, 
John L. Holt, 
J. Stillman Cottreli, 
F. H. Manchester, 
John Vaughan, 
Sarah Burroughs, 
H. M. Billings, 
Mary A. Sowden, 
Margaret Sullivan, 
Thomas G. Carr, 
William T. Carr, 
Rosa F. Carr, 
Mary Bam ford, 
Maggie Scott, 
Lillie A. Bamtord, 
George S. Bamtord, 
W. H. Scott, 
Sarah Manchester, 
Elizabeth A. French, 
William Braman, 
Mrs. G. H. Grant, 
Emma F. Burdick, 
Mrs. Howard Pender, 
George M. Freeborn, 
Rhoda A. Freeborn, 
C. E. Hulburn, 
James M. Maxson, 



Chas. F. Godfrey, 
Hannah B. Ciodfrey, 
Alfred Manchester, 
Sarah A. Manciiester. 
Susan Spooner, 
James (i. Keith, 
C. L. White, 
Frederick .\ . Stanhope, 
Oiixia II. .Stanhojie, 
Mrs. Lottie A. "S'oung, 
M. (). Bigley, 
J. Etlward Nicolai, 
Joseph P^. Johnston, 
Paul Dexter, 
Tom Watson, 
Amelia P. Jenks, 
C. B. Jenks, 
Mrs. James B. Black. 
Angelina Carpenter, 
Caroline C. Weaver, 
Mary .\. Cjibbs, 
Lydia Ouleston, 
Hiomas Rooney, 
Chu-ence A. Carr, 
Mrs. Robert Hubbard, 
Albert Harrington, 
Mrs. W. R. Perry, 
Chas. Flanagan, 
G. Gilmore, 
C. Gilmore, 
Benj. F. Gilmore. 
S. B. Weeks, 
Mrs. J. Saffrel, 
Kate Murphy, 
Sarah J. F. Gilmore. 
Jennie E. Gilmore, 
Mary E. Murphy, 
Anne Harrington, 
Mary A. Howder, 
Robert C. Olds, 
Edith M. Olds, 
Geo. S. Burroughs, 
C. H. Davis, 
W. M. Southwick, 
E. H. Russell, 
G. W. Melville, 
Eva M. Melville, 
Stewart Denham, 



i6o 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



Mrs. James M. Maxson, 
J(>h!i TuriiLT, 
Mrs. Elizahi'tli KL-iiny, 
Mrs. Lvdia R. Peiino, 
Natlianiel Penno, 
Henry Taylor. 
Mrs. M. F. Ta\lor. 
B. B. Cornell, 
Mrs. H. B. Cornell. 
Joseph S. Eddy, 
Clara T. Eddy, 
Lizzie M. Saunders, 
Jennie A. Eddy, 
Isaphene A. .Saunders, 
II. B. Morgan, 
Lila C. Handy, 
Beckie C. Handy, 
Charles Russell, 
Wni. R. Perry, 
Lydia A. McCorniick, 
Mary Ellen Scott, 
Mary R. Saver, 
S. A. Fowler, 
Hattie B. Prowler, 
Annie G. Ash, 
VVm. H. Henderson, 
Mrs. II. S. French, 
S. E. French, 
Mrs. Richard Matthews, 
Miss Lizzie Matthews, 
Joseph DeWitt, 
Roxanna DeWitt, 
Mrs. Cynthia Austin, 
Miss S. B. Thurston, 
Emily Hudson, 
Mrs. E. M. Chase. 
Geo. W. Chase, 
Edward T. Davis, 
Edmuiiii Ali^ro, 
Carrie II. Chace, 
Joseph Little, 
Henry Vickers, 
Marion R. Wood, 
Josie I. Little, 
Lena Peabody, 
Mrs. Arnold Manchester 
Alice Almy, 
Mrs. A. E. Jackson, 



Mary T. Tew, 
W. P. Hubbard, 
Samuel II. Wales, 
E. P. Oxx, 
E. A. Dunham, 
Wm. R. Dunham, 
Gilbert T. Dunham, 
Edith M. Dunham, 
Georgina E. Sluuv, 
Daisy E. Shaw, 
Annie E. Wilkey, 
Emily II. Shea, 
Carrie Irwin Taft, 
S. B. Westcott, 
C. H. R. Westcott, 
Ambrose B. Ash, 
Samuel D. Spink, 
Wm. S. Spink, 
Robert C. Sjiink, 
Wm. J. Clark, 
Chas. L. Butler, 
Annie S. Butler, 
James S. Chase, 
Ella M. Moorehead, 
Mary F. Nolan, 
Harry H. Satl'ord, 
Mrs. H. H. Saftord, 
R. W. Mitchell, 
Florence V. Newton, 
Annie H. Luther, 
Winfield V. Luther, 
Mrs. Wm. P. Blythe, 
Lizzie P. Blythe, 
Mrs. George E. Allen, 
Mary A. Watson, 
Sadie F. Peckham, 
Frank A. Peckham, 
Simeon M Pike, 
J. N. Morris, 
J. B. Black, 
Thos R. Spencer, 
Chas. O. Hood, 
Sarah E. Hood, 
G. T. Cornell, 
Mrs. Emily F. John.son, 
Daniel Burdick, 
Rowena S. Albro, 
Henry A. Wilkey, 



THE OFFICIAL REGISTER. 



l6l 



Mrs. Addie Reynolds, 
A. G. Reynolds, 
Mary J. Manchester, 
Charles Dyer, 
Mrs. T. VV. Lyon, 
Dr. Peter F. Ciirley, 
G. R. Batenian, 
Thomas Welch, 
James Munroe, 
Mrs. Mary II. Ciishin 
Mrs. J. Gibson, 
Ciiarles A. Williams, 



Ludwig Frank, 
Justin J. Stcxidarti, 
Franklin Shaw, 
James ,\. Tew. 
Mary McDonald, 
Roderick McDonald. 
Tilos. Coiigeshall. 
Carol ineS. Coi^geshall, 
John "S". Brightman, 
Fan UN' Ward, 
Sarah R. Sweet. 
Stephen Y. Dnnham, 
Mary L. Donll. 
Rob. C. Tophani, 
James Barton, 
Robert Allan, 
Laura A. Allan. 
Alfred Wilson. 
Emily F. ^\'ilson, 
Jos. W. Cornell. 
James M. Lawton, 
Joseph S. Lewis. 
William D. Wilson, 
Rachel G. Wilson, 
George II. Praman, 
Philip D. Sherman, 
Elizabeth Hall Pitman, 
Deborah Townsend, 
Abbie P. Carr, 
Mrs. Elizabeth Shaw, 
Louisa Braman, 
Frank B. Peckham, 
Susan A. Pecham, 
Benj. Lawton, 
Timothy Sullivan, 



Mrs. M. K. Carr, 
Miss Sarah C. Carr, 
Jas. R. N. Hudson, 
Mrs. J. B. Wardrop, 
Mrs. T. C. Mumford, 
Ida L. Mumford. 
.Mrs. Benjamin Mmnford, 
.Vnna S. Tripp. 
W. 11. Howard, 
Mary A. Williams, 
G. II. Kelley, Jr., 
Richard M. Siierman. 
Lena A. Euler. 
NEW BEDFORD, MASS. 
George Pell, 
Ella M. Iladiield. 
Mrs. Sylvanus M. Hall. 
Samuel C. France, 
John VV. Bannister, 
Hannah M. Perkins. 
George Knife. 
Mrs. George Knife, 
Mary B. Lewis, 
Susie P. Townsend, 
Sarah C. Kempton, 
Wm. J. Sweet, 
Georgieanna Peckham. 
Benj. Pitman, 
Alden W. Brightman. 
Mrs. Sarah E. Lewis, 
Miss Sarah Gladding, 
Patrick Sullivan, 
Mrs. Annie Sullivan. 
Julia Sullivan. 
Timothy Mahony, 
Mrs. Sarah P. Davenport, 
Mrs. Hattie F. Palmer, 
Mrs. Addie H. Thompson, 
Charles G. Thompson, 
Wm. Jas. Barker, 
Chas. C. Clarke, 
Edith P. Lewis, 
Frank H. Thompson, 
Frank S. Chase, 
Walter Pell, 
William Atwood, 
Samuel McKenzie, 
Mrs. Sarah A. Corson, 
James Fayervveathef, 



l62 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



AIoxuiuIlm- J;ick, 
Francis II. Greene, 



Isaac Borden, 
Sarah Barber, 
Mary E. Chace, 
Mary K. Hazelhurst, 
Thomas E. Weaver, 
Sarah C. Sherman, 
Daniel Sherman, 
Cora A. Sherman, 
Hannah Peckham, 
Mary McCarty, 
Maggie Murphy, 
John Roderick, 
Catherine L. Chace, 
Samuel A. Bradley, 
William Cremin, 
R. C. Carr, 
Jas. E. Watson, 
Fred N. Barlow, 
Robinson Chase, 
Wright Lyne, 
Elizabeth Lyne. 
Frank C. Thomas, 
Carrie A. Dring, 
Margaret Hazelhurst, 
Katie M. Weaver, 
Jessie P. Mowry, 
Sylvester H. Dring, 
Samuel S. Beaumont, Ji 
Thomas C. Beaumont. 
Annie I. Carr, 
Milton S. Carr, 
Mable P. Carr, 
Annie E. Hooper, 
Allegretto E. Hooper, 
William F. Gerard, 
Elizabeth B. Wells, 
J. Henry Wells, 
G- W. Bronson, 
Albert Cadoret, 
Julia Barker, 

Miss Nellie Spering, 
W^illiam C. Newton, 
S. P. Cottrell, 



James Doull, 
Hattie Pearce, 

FALL RIVER, MASS. 

Henrj' A. Clarke, 
Dennie Lary, 
John W. Jones, 
Mrs. T. M. Lyle, 
Mrs. J. F. Ward, 
Helen G. Lufkin, 
Louise Colcord, 
Sarah C. Bronson, 
Geo. W. Peckham, 
J. H. Boone, 
C. P. Dring, 
Richard S. Peckham, 
Maurice T. Barlow, 
Frederick N. Barlow, 3d, 
Christopher J. Barlow, 
Harry E. Barlow, 
Eddie E. Barlow, 
Christopher Barlow, 
Adelia M. Peckham, 
Ciiarles C. Carr, 
Amanda M. Carr, 
Annie S. Carr. 
Chas. E. Burdick, 
L. A. Burdick, 
Thomas McGuire, 
James II. Wixon, 
Gordon Mas(m, 
William Smith, 
N. V. Lyon, 
Chas. II. Bush. 
Geo. S. Slocum, 
Charles F. Lake, 
Hiram C. Harrington. 
Mrs. J. P. Mowry, 
Mrs. "11. A. Clark, 
John Hughes, 
Michael Leary, 
Pierre Adam, 
John C. Clarke, 
H. W. Scott. 

PHILADELPHIA, PA. 

W. P. Swasey, 
Frank Smith, 
J. Burdick, 



THE OFFICIAL REGISTER. 



163 



Miss C. M. Northani, 
Miss S. L. Ambrose, 

W. H. Tajlor, 
Mrs. W. H. Taylor, 
George S. Wood, 
Stephen M. Cook, 
George F. Northup, 
Joseph P. Riirlingame, 
Blanche Northup, 
William H. Simmons, 
Sarah S. Simmons, 



E. F". Anthony, 
Mrs. E. F. Anthony, 
Mrs. Edward Anthony 
Edward Anthony, 
Stepiien A. Watson, 
Wanton T. Sherman, 
William P. Barker, 
Mattie B. Sherman. 

Harry Wilson, 
Thomas B. Buft'um, 
Harriet N. Barker, 
M. Bull, 

William Lovie Tillc^', 
Marj' E. Tille\-, 
Percival Tilley, 
Laura G. Tilley, 
Benjamin T. White, 
Mabel Coggeshall, 
Henry M. Wilson, 
J. E. Wilson, 



Gordon D. Oxx, 
George W. Peckham, 
Mrs. Gordon I). Oxx, 
Mary A. Oxx, 
Hannah L. Oxx, 
Hattie K. Oxx, 
Lizzie B. Oxx, 
Dannie H. ()\\, 
Allie C. Oxx, 
James D. Hull, 



Thomas B. (joiild, 
Mary H. Newton. 

PAW'TUCKET, R. I. 

Ganes Langley, 
Annie E. Graham, 
Mrs. Anne E. Bullock, 
S. M. Clark, 
Mrs. S. M. Clark, 
Julia Eddy Burlingame, 
Mrs. H. A. Phillips, 
Mary Denning, 
Hattie Bullock. 
Henry A. Midliken. 

PORTSMOUTH, R. I. 

George D. Smith, 
Clara E. Dennis, 
Joseph G. Dennis, 
Sarah A. Greene, 
Mrs. E. T. DeBlois, 
Annie E. Sherman, 
Henry F. Barker, 
Edward T. Delilois. 

MIDDLKTOWN, R. I. 

Mrs. Mary Wilson, 
Mrs. Mary C. Bates, 
G. H. Barker, 
Charles C. White, 
William H. Bliss. Jr., 
Charles F. White. 
Amelia White, 
Etta White, 
George E. W^iite, 
James H. Barker, 
Herbert Wilson, 
William H. Boyd. 
Henry C. Sherman. 

JAMESTOWN, R. I. 

Thoinas E. Oxx, 
Mrs. Thomas E. Oxx, 
W. W. Wales, 
Mrs. John J. Watson, 
John B. Landers, 
Thomas King, Jr., 
Robinson (i. King, 
Mary E. Dodge, 
Mary E. King, 
Thomas H. Clarke, 



164 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



Charlotte W. Hull, Sarah J. Clarke, 

Bessie C Hull, Lena H. Clarke, 

Mary E. Buttrick, Mrs. G. W. Peckham, 

Mary E. S. Buttrick, John B. King, 

James T. Buttrick, Thomas King. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

RHODE ISLAND. 

A. W. Pray. East Greenwich, Mary Taylor. So. Kingstown, 

Miss I. Hulneg, East Greenwich, Thos. J. Thurston, Bristol. 

Mary A. Logan, East Greenwich, Hannah Crandall, Westerly. 

Thomas G. Hazard, Boston Neck. Lena A. Richards. Wickford. 

Benjamin Whitten, Newport, Howard E. Barker. Block Island. 

Benj. B. Burgess, East Prov. Centre, Thomas Shea. Prudence Island. 

John II. Turner, Warren, Mrs. T. A. Mc Court. Newport. 

John Eddy, South Kingstown, Wni. de \^. IIollowa\ , Wickt'ortl. 
Mrs. Frances C. Eddy, So. Kingstown, Mary A. Hollowav. Wickford. 

Anna Coe Weeks, Kingston, Charles Saunders. Westorh . 

Charles N. Gifford, Phenix, Frank G. Rice. Westerly, 

Thomas B. Procter, Daxis^ille, Lucy E. Rice. Westerh-, 

W. II. Tracy, South Kingstown. Mrs. Laura G, Bearce, Howard, 

Joseph Congdon, Wickford, Geo. C. Townsend, Barrington, 

Charles II. Spencer, Central Falls, Thomas L. Alhro, Prudence Island, 

Mrs. John Utter, Central Falls, Angie B. Brown, Georgiaville, 

Celia M. Shaw. Johnston, Lew is I). Peirce, Warwick, 

Bertha M. Shaw, Johnston, John Congdon. Warwick, 

Lillie Shaw. Johnston. Roswell Groff, Wakefield, 

George II. Shaw, Johnston, Ahhie Groft", Wakefield, 

Henry R. Lawton, West Greenwich, John F. Weeden, Pawtuckel. 

James Hammond, New Shoreham, Emily E. Weeden, Pawtucket, 

Eliza P. Hammond, New Shoreham, W. Lillihridge, Richmond, 

Robinson P. D. Bennett, Bristol, Edv\ard I. Thompson, Bristol, 

Mary A. Staftbrd, New Shoreham. Mrs. Edward I. Thompson, Bristol. 

Mrs. W. Frank West, Bristol. Samuel A. Taslor, Bristol. 

Mrs. Geo. C. Townsend. Barrington. Mrs. Samuel A. 'i'a\lor, Bristol, 

Daniel F. Maguire. Georgiav ille. Miss Nellie A. Taylor, Bristol, 

John D. Tuell, Warren. IIenr\ i\sh. La Fayette, 

Frank Weinrich, Wickford. Adeline F. Ash, La Fayette, 

Willie Weinrich. Wickford. Addie F. Ash, La Fayette, 

Mrs. E. T. Gladding. Bristol, Jolm S. Ash, La Fayette, 

Thos. Rodman. Peacedale, Saddie I-',. Ash, LaFa\ette, 

E. B. Warner. Wakefield, Walter J). Ash. La Fayette, 

Mrs. Rose, So. Kingstown, Jar\is 11. yVlger. Westerl\-, 

Edward S. Goddard. .\id)urn. Clarence Salishurv, Ti\erton ^ Cor., 

Sadie K. Bates, Central Falls. Caleb J. Alliro. Prudence Island. 

(j. H. F. Xorthup. Woonsocket. Nath. .S. (jreene. Bristol. 

William E. Openshaw. Woonsocket, Stephen A. Hopkins, Bullock's Point, 



THE OFFICIAL REGISTER. 165 

Mrs. Dan'l T. Rodman. So. Kingstown. Dan'l T. Rodman. So. Kingstown, 

Lizzie II. Murph_\', Qiionochoiitau^-. Charles Weeden, Pavvtiixet, 

Mrs. C. H. Biiell, Westerly, Frank McCarty, Hlock Island, 

Albert Buell, Westerly, Ernest L. Arnold, Nayatt Point, 

C. T. Card, New Shoieham. Sidney Arnold, Nayatt Point, 

Benedic Ellis, East Greenwich, Clara M. Tilley, East Greenwieh. 

Mrs. Benedic Ellis. East Greenwich. Wm. II. Middleton, Bristol, 

William J. Phillips, Warwick Neck. Thomas S. Brownell, Warren. 

James S. Mason, I'ristol. Anne Brownell, Warren, 

Carrie M. Weinrich. Wickford, John P. Brownell, Warren, 

Michael Cruden, Westerl\-, Abhv B. Lillibridye, Richmond, 

Mrs. Joseph B. Child. 3d. Warren. Edward Lillihridge. Richmond. 

Harry E. Nason, Point Judith, Abby M. Alniy, Richmond. 

Isaac Lawton, Jr., Central Falls, Mrs. \\'anton Lillibridye, Richmond, 

Charles B. Bowdick. Wickford, Louisa A. Richards. Wicktbrd, 

Mrs. Helen Kent. Barringtoii, Hannah Simmons, liristol, 

John S. Gladdint;'. Wii-ktbr<i, John P. Simmons. P)ristol. 

R. W. Chappell. Wicktbrd, Robert Dunbar. Bristol. 

E. F. Chappell. Wicktbrd. Ruth G. Dunliar, Bristol, 

Mrs. Sarah P.James, Westerly, Mrs. Thomas A. Spencer, Cent'l Falls, 

Jennie E. Whaley, Westerly, Thos. E. SwinlnuMie. Central Falls, 

Samuel G. Babcock. Westerl\ , Wm. E. Holloway, Wicktbrd, 

John O'Connor. Jr. , Westerly, Mrs. Wm. E. Holloway. Wicktbrd, 

P'rank O. Strowbridge. Wickford. Andrew N. Tefft. So. Kingstown. 

William Gardner, East Greenwich, George H. Pettis, Pawtuxet. 
Mrs. Sallie M. Saunders, Westerly. 

M.XS.SACIIUSETTS. 

James W. L_\on, L\ nn, Mrs. James Weslgatc. \\'akefielii. 

Henry T. French. C^iincy, Ruth Barker I'raiiklin, NoiMliamptou, 

E. A. Taber, Qiiincv, James V. Staigg. Taunton. 

Mrs M. E. Taber, Q^iinc\'. Annie E. Kelle\-. Somer\ille. 

Miss L. O. Peabody, Northfield, Alfred S. Stanhope. Lawrence, 

Louis N De Longe, East Somerville, S. I. .\ustin. (jloucester. 

Anna E. De Longe, East Somerville. A. L. Ramsilen. Meiilield. 

Louis C. De Longe, East Somerville. Lillie Sulli\an. IloUoke. 

John Utter, East Somer\ille. Kate Sullixan. Ilolyoke, 

A. P. Bashford, Randoli)h, Emma Chace, Somerset, 

A. G. Bashtbrd. Randolph, W. T. Hazard. Randolph, 

C. T. Hazard, Taunton, Mrs. Amos Whitnev. No. Cambridge, 

H. A. Taber, East \\'evmoutb. .\mos P. Whitnev. No. Cambridge, 

Mrs. H. A. Taber, East Weymouth, John 11. Peckham, No. Attleboro, 

M. A. Bush, Melrose. Elizabeth Read Wood, No Attleboro, 

B. W. Davis, Brockton. Mary R. Albro. Milfbrd. 
J.J. Webb, C^iiincy, Ella P. Merrill, Taunton. 

Mrs. W. C. Langley. ]r.. Dorche^ler, Agnes J. Hogg. West Newbury. 

Mrs. J. T. Sherman, Dorchester. John K. Bo\le. Attleboro, 

H. G. Wood, Littleton, Carrie E. Cobb. Attleboro, 



i66 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



William D. Tew, Taunton, 
Thomas Vose Heath. Charlestown, 
Eugene S. Grinnell, Waltham, 
Mary E. Grinnell, Waltham, 
Joseph Martin, North Dartmouth, 
Herbert L. Sweet, South Dartmouth, 
Thomas J. Corey, Rehoboth, 
G. B. Peck, Rehoboth, 
James P. DeBlois, Hebronville. 
Minnie C DeBlois, Hebronville, 
Mary DeBlois, Hebronville. 
Charles W. Turner, MicUlleboro, 
W. Heath, Taunton, 

B. C. Heath, Taunton, 
L. M. Cobb, Attleboro, 

Annie E. W\'ildron, North Diyhlon, 
Carrie A. Chace, Brockton, 
Mrs. E. L. Tilley, Amherst, 
Mrs. J. H. Wells, Springfield, 
Wm. Bui-lingham, Worcester, 
Abby R. Richards, North Attleboro. 
Mrs. C. F. Richardson, Ciardner, 
Mamie E. Richardson, Gardner, 
Mrs. Charles F. Palmer, Brockton. 
Mattie M. Gladding, North Dighton. 
John E. Lyon, Salem. 
Caroline A. Freeborn, \V'reuthani. 
Mrs. Ann P. Messer, Midiileboro. 

C. L. Swasey. Brockton, 
C. A. Swasev. Brockton, 
B. W. Davis, Brockton. 
James Westgate. \\'akciicUl, 
John W. Pcabody. Freeto\\n, 
Betsey R. Pcabod\'. Freetown. 
Joseph R. Dunham, P'rcetown, 
Aug. H. Bradford. Franklin. 
Elizabeth B. Peckham. Wcllcsley, 
Mrs. H. E. Pond, Franklin. 



Stephen G. Wood. Noi-th Attleboro, 

Rev. F. A. Fo.xcroft, Cambridge, 

Mrs. F. A. Foxcroft, Cambridge, 

Robert L. Tilley, Gardner. 

Mrs. R. L. Tilley, Gardner, 

Miss Emma L. Tilley, Gardner, 

G. H. Landers, Jr., Taunton, 

Charles S. Saver. Taunton, 

John H. Robinson, Lawrence. 

Thomas F. Southwick, No. Attleboro, 

Mary E. Hazard, Randolph, 

Chas. H. Messenger. Milfbrd, 

Mrs. C. IL Messenger, Milford, 

B. H. Lewis, Worcester, 

Mrs. Japhet Mason, Taunton, 

John H. Harrison, Fiskdale, 

Mehala M. Dimham, Assonet. 

W. Earl Barker, Fitchburg, 

G. H. Ladd, Fitchburg, 

Mav Crandall, Brockton, 

Mary Crandall. Brockton, 

Lizzie Crandall. T'rockton, 

Mrs. Knnna Howard, E. Attleboro, 

Mrs. W. J. Eldredge. Easton, 

H. G. Landers, Taunton, 

Joseph G. Albro, North Attlelioro, 

William E. Mead, Taunton, 

Joseph Crantiall, Brockton, 

Wm. B. Hale. Rehoboth. 

Annie T. Gorton, East Bridgewatcr. 

K. L. Clarke. Wellesley. 

Ferti. .S. Reed, "J'aunton. 

Abby C. Tha\er, Taunton, 

Clara L. Sa\er, Taunton, 

James M. Saver, Taunton, 

George R. Wheeler, Wrentham, 

James Leary. Newbur\ jioit, 

Mrs. James Leary, Newburyport. 



CONNECTICUT. 



Abby M. Allan. Norwich, 

James P. Mumford, Hartford, 

J. How land Gardner New London. 

J. Eldred Brown, Middletown, 

Mrs. Albert Smith, New London, 

Clara B. Northrup, Jewell City, 

James Allan, Norwich, 

Mrs. Elizabeth A. Standish. Colchester, 



Stephen A. Greene, Meriden, 
Thomas A. O'Connell, Stonington, 
Welcome C. Dennis, Mystic, 
Mrs. E. Shipman, Deep Ri\er. 
Allen C. Slade, Stonington, 
E. Morgan, Groton, 
Frank J. Dougherty. So. Norwalk, 
S. H. Peikham. Woodstock, 



THE OFFICIAL REGK TER. 167 

Ilernum Liliciitlial. llaiilord. Ami E. Morgan, Grolon, 

Thomas P. Norman, Preston. Mrs. Annie II. Simmons Norwicli, 

Catharine A. Fish, New lla\en, G. .\. Shuie, Stonin^ton, 

Thos. Wilkinson, Stonington, ()li\or Kinu;, Slonington, 

Allen C Slade, 2d, Stonington, Mrs. J. C. Keeeh, Danielson\ ille, 

O'I'IIICR S'JATES. 

Harry Russell Bond, Portland. Me. W. P>nll. Poughkeepsie. N. V. 

Mrs. George (ij ray. Stcx-kton. Cal. 1 1. W. Cozzens, Jr. , Poughkeejisie, N. Y. 

W. D. Budlong, Rutland. Vermont. J. E. Fleming Newark, N. J. 

G. T. Hammond. Long Island. Mrs. J. E. Fleming. .Newark. N. f. 

Lizzie A. Popple. Trox, N. Y. Miss Dillie .S. I'leming, Newark, N. [. 

Henry A. Popple. Troy. N. Y. William R. Hill. Utica, N. Y. 

Howard S. Titus, Trenton. N. J. Frank 'l\ Jai-kson. I'tica, N. Y. 

Sal lie Livingston, Catskill. N. ^'. Joseph Bradford, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 

Alfred S. Nield. Upland, Pa. Rev. Sam'l Moran.West Islip, L.I., N.Y. 

Maria Tyler, Pleasant Hill. Pa. Wm. Moore Smith. Staten Island, N.Y. 

Elizaheth Nield. Iplaiul. l*a. Mrs. W. Moore Smith. Staten Island, 
T. I). Mills. Jersey City, N. J. N. ^'. 

John S. MeAdam, Princeton N.J. Belle K. Smith. Staleii Island, N. Y. 

Samuel Hilton. Washington. ]). C. Edw. Gould Smith. Staten Island, N.Y. 

Ed. G. Randall. Washington. D. C. Geo. A. Downing, Sailor's Snug liar- 
Mrs. E. G. Randall. Washington, D. C. hor. .N. Y. 

Capt. Joseph Irish, L^. S. R. M. Mrs. Sam'l Hilton, Washington, I). C. 

S. Hilton, Washington. 1). C. Mrs. Dr. .M. I'. Thompson. Chicago. 111. 

Palmer Brown, Detroit, Mich. Mrs. S. Moran. West Islip. L. I., N.Y. 

F. Wickham, Norwalk, Ohio. Mrs. Margaret W. Hines. Baltimore, Md. 

James G. Gibbs, Norwalk. Ohio. Mrs. DuteeJ. Pearce, Morristovvn, N. J. 

J. C. Macy, ]3es Moines, Iowa. Col. .Vsa Manchester, Independence, 
Eliza Isabella Macy, Des Moines, Iowa. Penn. 

A. II. Clarke, U. S. N. II. Laurens Peckham, Poughkeepsie, 
Belle T. Wright, Albany. N. Y. N. Y. 

Mrs. J. W. Vose. Jacksonville. Fla. Robert Lake Boss. Washington, D. C. 

Katharine P^inley. Albany. N. Y. (jrace I. Boss, \\'ashingt(Mi, D. C. 

Isabella Wright, Albany, N.Y. Mrs. Wni. II. Kingshurv. [acksonville, 

Thomas W. Gibson. Kington, Ont. Fla. 

Wm. E. Bailey, Morristovvn, N. J. John Stevens, Grand Tower, 111. 

Harriet B. Bailey, Morristown, N. J. Mary B. Cozzens, San Angelo, Texas. 

James Coggeshall, Detroit, Mich. Mrs. H. Page Hough, Rahway, N. J. 

Mrs. Elias Gibson. Chicago. 111. Clarence A. Ilammctt, St. Paul, Minn. 

William S. Wilcox. Maui, II. I. Mrs. E. Wiley Harlow. Omaha, Neb. 

Wm. D. Bliss, Saranac, N. Y. A. W. Robinson, San Francisco, Cal. 

Wm. II. Curley, Baltimore, Md. Mrs. A. W. Robinson, San P'rancisco, 
H. O. Hudson, Asbury Park, N. J. Cal. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



The following i 
the time of going 

D. A. Agys, 
William J. H. Ailnian. 
Stephen Albro, 
Thomas L. Albro, 
Erastus P. Allan, 
G. Ed. Allen, 
W. II. Allen. 
William Allan, 
Benjamin Almy. 
Clarence Anderson, 
James Anthony, 
Henry Ash, 
Eugene Atkinson, 
William M. Austin. 
Mrs. C. H. Babcock. 
Darius Baker, 

E. W. Baker, 
W. S. Baldwin, 
Alexander N. Barker, 
William P. Barker, 
Henry F. Barnard, 
Theodore A. Barton, 
August Belmont, 
Mrs. J. C. Bigley, 
L. R. Blackman, 
Mrs. W. Blake, 
John Bluck, 
James E. Boone, 
Robert P. Boss, 
Edward T. Bosworth, 
Smith Bosworth, 
Stephen Bowen, 
Alonzo Braman, 
Fred. W. Brown, 
Lewis Brown, 
Thomas N. Brown, 
John R. Brownell, 
Thomas S. Brownell. 
Walter B. Bryer, 



THE SUBSCRII5ER.S. 

s a li.st of the subscrib 
to press : — 

\\'illiam H. Bryer. 
Charles M. Bull. 
Melville Bull. 
Arnold L. Burdick, 
Charles II. Burdick, 
Edwin S. Burdick, 
James Burdick. 
Richard B. Burdick, 
Thomas Burlinghani, 
G. H. Burnham, 
J. E. Burroughs, 
S. W. Bush, 
Michael Butler, 

A. M. Cahoone, 
Henry O. T. Cameron, 

B. D. Carlisle, 
David S. Carr, 
Robert R. Carr, 
William H. Carr, 
A. Manton Chace, 
Peleg C. Chase. 
Philip S. Chase, 
City of Newport, 
City of Providence, 
Conrad Clarke, 
Thomas II. Clarke, 
David M. Cogge^hall. 
Freeborn Coggeshall, 
Henry T. Coggeshall. 
James Coggeshall, 
Lawton Coggeshall, 
Thomas Coggeshall, 

(New Bedford.) 
Thomas Coggeshall, 

(Xcwpovt.) 

Mrs. E. M. Collins, 
George R. Congdon, 
William C Congdon, 
Joseph W. Cornell, 



ers to this work up to 

William II. Cotton, 
James B. Cottrell, 
John II. Cottrell, 
J. S. Cottrell. 
Michael Cottrell. 
James G. Cozzens, 
John H. Cozzens, 
William C. Cozzens, 
William J. Cozzens, 
Henr\- W. Cozzens, 
Robert S. Co veil, 
Joseph Crandall, 
William S. Cranston. 
Edward A. Crocker. 
John H. Crosby, Jr., 
F. A, Daniels, 
Abner II. Davis, 
Lucius D. Da\is, 
George M. Dockray, 
John H. Dougherty, 

B. F. Downing, Jr., 
George F. Downing, 
James M. Drake, 

C. H. Draper, 
Carrie A. Dring, 
Stephen T. Dunham, 
Thomas Durfee, 
Mrs. Mary B. Eddy, 
Mrs. Benedic Ellis, 
Saiuuel Engs, 
George E, Faisneau, 
George W. Fife, 
George T. Finch, 
James B, Finch, 
William H. Fish, 

J. J. Flood, 
William H. Fludder, 
Moses Forkey, 
F. A. Foxcroft, 



lyo 



THE NEWPORT RE-UNION. 



Robert S. Franklin, 
Cassiuis M. Freeborn, 
G. M. Freeborn, 
Orhmd Freeborn. 
Mrs. M. R. (Gabriel, 
J. \V. Gale. 
William Gale. 
Daniel Galvin, 
Patrick J. iJalvin, 
Thomas Galvin. 
S. A. Gardner. 
Charles N. Gitibrd, 
B. F. CTilmore, 
W^illiam Gilpin, 
A. B. Gladding, 
Augustus Goffe, 
James II. Goddard, 
James Goodwin, 
Edward W. Gould, 
Stephen G. Gowdev, 
Greene Brothers, 
William O. Greene, 
William Hamilton, 
Fred M. llammett. 
Joseph M. llammett, 
Robert W. Hammett, 
Edward S. Hammond, 
George T. Hammond, 
Joshua Hammond, 2nd. 
E. B. Harrington, 
John 1 1. I larrison, 
.\rthur Hazard, 
\\'illiam H. Henderson, 
E. W. Higbee, 
T. W. lligginson. 
Samuel Hilton. 
Mrs. T. F. ilinkle.v. 
W. E. Ilolloway, 
Charles T Hopkins. 
P. 11. Horgan. 
Mrs. W. S. Hough, 
Henry T. I revs, 
Volney S. Ire\s, 
Joseph Irish, 
H. J. Jernegan, 
foseph Johnson, 
Joseph F. Johnston. 
James G. Keith, 
J.D.J. Kelley, 



James L. Knowles, 
John E Lake, 
Mary Ann Lambert, 
Albert C. Landers, 
John B. Landers, 
William R. Landers, 
Job T. Langley, 
Overton G. Langley, 
W. C. Langley, Jr., 
Isaac Lawrence. 

B. H. Lavvton. 

C. H. Lawton. 
Francis Lawton. 
H. B. Lawton. 

J. T. Lawton, 
W. H. Lawton. 
George P. Lawton. 
George P. Leonard. 
Mrs. ]. C. I^ewis. 
Joseph G. Lewis. 
Thomas C. Lewis, 
George A. Litlleneld, 
Mrs. M. E. Liith. 
W. II. Lynch. 
X. C. L\on, 
John C. Macy. 
"m. p. Mallon. 
G. H. Manchester, 
Mrs. E. B. de Muro, 
Mrs. Samuel Moran, 
Alfred Manchester, 
Silas Manchester. 
\V. H. Manchester. 
W. E. Marsh. 
W. W. Marvel. 
Geoi-ge C Mason, 
William .Mathers, 
Ruth A. McCormick, 
W. H. McCormick. 
Daniel McGowan, 
Andrew K. McMahon, 
Thomas D. Mills. 
Mrs. lleur\' II. Monroe, 
John II. Morris, 
Thomas R. Miles. 
Charles II. Mumford. 
John P. Mimifoid. 
Samuel R. Mumford, 
T. C. Mumford, 



Edward Newton, 
Florence V. Newton, 
Richard J. Newton, 
Simon Newton, 
T. F. Nichols, 
Frank E. Nicolai, 
M. A. Nolan, 
George H. Norman, 
Clara B. Northup, 
J. L. Northam, 
Robert E. Northam, 
Mrs. T. S. Nowell, 
Michael O'Brien, 
Ja!iies Openshaw, 
John S. Palmer, 
J. E. Parmenter, 
George C Patterson, 
Elisha Peckham, 
Job A. Peckham, |r., 
John H. Peckham, 
John J. Peckham, 
Or\ille Peckham, 
Thomas P. Peckham, 
W. G. Peckham, 
Robert Pengall^y, 
Charles F. Phillips, 
Da\id T. Pinniger, 
Robert C. Pitman, 
T. T. Pitman, 
Mrs. Henry E. Pond, 
Mrs. James A. Potter, 
S. C. Potter, 
Mrs. Abby Preufert, 
William S. Price, 
Andrew J. Qj.nnn, 
Francis H, Rankin, 
Harwood E. Read, 
John D, Richardson, 
William B. Rider, 
E. II. Rhodes, 
C. II. Russell, Jr., 
(ohn P. Sanborn, 
Joshua Sa_\er, 
Julius Sayer, 
W. II. Scott, 
John C. Seabury, 
T. Mumford Seabm-y, 
T. M. Seabury, 2nd, 
Stephen H. Sears, 



Philander Shaw, 
Augustus P. Sheniiiin, 
F. Shearman. 
Remini^ton Slicrnian. 
R. ^^. Sherman, 
Tliomas C. Sherman, 
William T>. Siierman, 
Mrs. S. E. Shipman, 
Mrs. W. I J. Shoemaker, 
B. D. Silliman. 
Jane Silloway, 
Mrs. Anne II. Simmons, 
Lewis L. Simmons, 
Allen C. Slade, 2nd., 
Stephen P. Slocum. 
William II. Slocum. 
Mrs. Eleanor 15. Smith, 
Howard Smith, 

J. B. F. Smith. 
W. Moore Smith. 
Ml s. Hiram Snvder. 

J. (iotlieh Spiui^-Ier, 

Samuel D. Spink^ 

Sarah 1). Spink, 

John A. C. Stacy, 

Edward Stanhope, 

Francis Stanhope, 

Frederick A. Stanhope. 

George Stanhope, 

I. N. Stanley, 



THE SUBSCRIBERS. 

NVilliam A. Stedman. 

David Stevens, 

John Stevens, Jr., 

J. (t. Ste\ens, 

William G. Stevens, 

Thomas D. Stoddard, 

Horatio R. Storer, 

Daniel E, Sullivan, 

William J. Swinburne, 

Henry Taylor, 

H. A. Taylor, 
James H. Taylor. 

Mrs. John Taylor, 
John J. Taylor, 
John M. Taylor, 
Thomas M. Taylor, 

William B. Taylor, 
William Rogers Taylor, 
H. B, Thayer, 
Edward T, Thompson, 
Charles R. Thurston, 
Henry II. Tillev, 
R. H. Tiliey, 
A. C. Titus, 
Robert C. Tojiham. 
Frederick Tompkins. 
Hamilton B. Tomjikins, 
William F. Townsend, 
H. E. Turner, M. D., 
H. E. Turner, fr.. 



171 



Peter J. Turner, 
William Ci. Turner, 
Nicholas Underwood, 
Robert L. Underwood. 
William J. Underwood, 
Charles C. Van Zandt, 
George E. Vernon, Jr., 
Thomas V^ernon, 
Samuel II. Wales, 
S. S. Ward, 
Theodore Warren, 
John \Vaters, 
John G. Weaver, 
John G. Weaver, Jr., 
P. R. Weaver, 
Henry Webster, 
Charles W. Wendte, 
S. Budlong Westcott, 
Frank G. Wetherell, 
Joshua Wetherell, 
Geo. Peabody Wetmore, 
George R. Wheeler. 
C. L. White, 
Edmund White, 
Mrs, Charles B. Whiting, 
Mrs. S, W, P. Whitney, 
Cornelius Wilbour, 
C. P. L. Williams. 
William A. Williams. 
Herbert G. Wood, 
Thomas W. Wood. 




li.Vi'i-\ \ AI.LKV. 




^^ 



